# NTSB ATL00LA006: Cessna 152, N757YQ, Gainesville, FL, October 29, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 1999, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Gainesville, FL - Coordinates: 29.64952, -82.319656 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6495&lon=-82.3197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47664/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA006 ## Probable cause The student pilot's in-flight decision that resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion after he became lost and disoriented. A factor was the two fences. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, cruise - normal - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot was conducting his first solo cross-country flight, and was en route to his first destination airport. While approaching the airport, he was unable to make contact with the tower and decided that he was lost. He attempted to return to the original departure airport, but continued to be disoriented. The airplane was low on fuel and the propeller began to lose normal revolution. He located a field on which to perform a precautionary landing. During landing rollout, the airplane collided with two barbwire fences. According to the aircraft performance data, the airplane consumes approximately 6 gallons of fuel per hour. The student pilot departed with approximately 26 gallons of fuel (24.5 gallons useable) and flew for approximately 3.5 hours. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 1999, at 1115 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N757YQ, collided with two fences during a precautionary landing in a pasture four miles west of Gainesville, Florida. The airplane was operated by Comair Aviation Academy, Inc., and flown by the student pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Sanford, Florida, at 0745. According to the student pilot, he was conducting his first solo cross-country flight, and was on the first segment of the flight enroute to Melbourne, Florida. While en route, he stated that he was able to visually identify checkpoints designated on his flight plan. While approaching Melbourne, he attempted to contact Melbourne Tower, but did not receive a response. At that point, he concluded that he "was not on course and decided to terminate" his flight plan. He elected to attempt to return to Sanford. After turning around, he was unable to identify recognizable visual checkpoints or the city of Sanford. He radioed the St. Petersburg Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS), and advised them that he was "lost and disoriented," but the student pilot was unable to decipher their response. He attempted to locate an airport on which to land, but was unsuccessful. The pilot realized that the airplane was low on fuel and the "propeller started to lose normal revolution." He stated that he was "confused and lost," and decided to locate the nearest field on which to perform a precautionary landing. He located a rectangular field and shortly before touching down, realized it was occupied by cows. He initiated a steep left turn and landed perpendicular to the field. The airplane touched down at a ground speed of approximately 70 to 75 knots and during rollout, collided with two barbwire fences. During the impact sequence, the airplane sustained damage to the windshield, propeller and spinner, firewall, and the leading edge of the left wing. After coming to rest, he secured and exited the airplane. According to the aircraft performance data, the airplane consumes approximately 6 gallons of fuel per hour. The student pilot departed with approximately 26 gallons of fuel (24.5 gallons useable) and flew for approximately 3.5 hours. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N757YQ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757YQ-2003-01-27), registration cancelled 2003-01-27, S/N 15280113, built 1977 (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: 15280113 - Airframe hours: 14281 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Comair Aviation Academy, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 18, 1999, 46 hours before - Departed: SFB, SANFORD, FL - Destination: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 36 total, 36 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GNV, 44 nm away ## 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 19991029047309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991029047309A), Oct 29, 1999: Cessna 152, Gainesville, FL, Substantial damage. (.4) The student pilot was conducting his first solo cross-country flight, and was en route to his first destination airport. While approaching the airport, he… ## Other investigations on N757YQ (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW80FPJ21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FPJ21), Jun 3, 1980: Cessna 152 (N757YQ), Grandfield, OK, substantial damage 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.