# NTSB ANC94LA057: Cessna 152, N94583, Kenai, AK, May 24, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 1994, 12:56 local (20:56 UTC) - Place: Kenai, AK - Coordinates: 60.659236, -150.899078 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6592&lon=-150.8991&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2501/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA057 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE STUDENT PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT WAS COMPLETING AN EXTENDED CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED TWO MINUTES PRIOR TO FINAL LANDING AND THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 1994, at 1256 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 152 airplane, N94583, experienced a total power loss while approaching near Kenai, Alaska and the pilot executed a forced landing in Cook Inlet, off the mouth of the Kenai River. The student pilot swam to shore without injury and the airplane sustained substantial damage and sank. The flight was conducted as a solo student cross-county flight, round-robin from Kenai to Talkeetna under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the VFR flight. A VFR flight plan was on file for the initial leg of the flight, but not the final legs. The student pilot told the FAA radio controller that his engine was running rough as he approached Kenai airport and that he had "a fuel problem." He was seen to crash near shore. After swimming to shore, he told investigators that he had topped off the fuel in Talkeetna. He said that just prior to the event, while performing touch and go landings at the Soldotna airport, he noticed that the right tank was "very low and the left tank was below five gallons." Investigators were told by the student's instructor that the student route planning had included a fuel stop at Homer, however the student had elected to depart that intermediate stop without refueling or filing a VFR flight plan for the final leg to Kenai. Preliminary calculations indicate that the airplane had departed Talkeetna with 22.5 gallons (usable) fuel and flown for approximately 2.75 hours which included approaches and landings at Homer and Soldotna. Investigators from the FAA and the NTSB were told by pilots flying the route between Homer and Soldotna at the time of the accident that strong headwinds of about 30 knots below 10,000 feet from the north greatly reduced groundspeed. (See attached statement from pilot Charles Rediske.) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94583](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94583-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N 15285737, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 152-85737 - Airframe hours: 4761 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Dean Eichholz, doing business as Alaska Flying Network - Registered owner: Jerry L. Chadwick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 1, 1993, 26 hours before - Departed: TKA, TALKEETNA, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 48 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ENA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940524025199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940524025199A), May 24, 1994: Cessna 152, Kenai, AK, Destroyed. Lost power near destination. Ditched in bay. Reported low fuel. Had failed refuel en route on solo cross country. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.