# NTSB ATL00LA027: Cessna 152, N68197, Leesburg, FL, February 19, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 19, 2000, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, FL
- Coordinates: 28.800762, -81.880561 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8008&lon=-81.8806&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48655
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL00LA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48655/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL00LA027

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he miscalculated his fuel consumption and ran out of fuel prior to reaching the destination airport.  The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or component failures with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On February 19, 2000, about 1730 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N68197, collided with water while attempting an emergency landing following a loss of engine power near the Leesburg Municipal Airport, in Leesburg, Florida. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Sanford, Florida, at 1700.

The pilot stated that on February 18, 2000, he departed Daytona Beach, Florida, with full tanks of fuel and flew to Marco Island, Florida. The pilot then added nine gallons of fuel to his tanks in Marco Island, Florida and flew to Sanford, Florida. He stated that he used six gallons per hour as his fuel burn during the flight and calculated the remaining fuel on board to be one hour when he arrived in Sanford. He reported that on the following day, February 19, 2000, he departed Sanford, Florida for Leesburg, Florida, which is a 30 minute flight. He reported that he ran out of fuel on approach to Leesburg Municipal Airport and made a forced landing 200 meters from the approach end of runway 31.

The pilot reported that he miscalculated his fuel consumption and ran out of fuel prior to reaching the destination airport. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or component failures with the airplane.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing
  - terrain condition - swampy

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68197](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68197), registered now, S/N 15282178, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15282178
- Airframe hours: 7836
- Engines: Lycoming 152 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Philair
- Registered owner: Air Lease Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 11, 2000, 7 hours before
- Departed: SFB, SANFORD, FL
- Destination: LEE, FL
- Airport: LEE, Leesburg Municipal, runway 31, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 219 total, 80 in this make and model, 147 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 0° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 72 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 20000219033999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000219033999A), Feb 19, 2000: Cessna 152, Leesburg, FL, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot reported that he miscalculated his fuel consumption and ran out of fuel prior to reaching the destination airport. The pilot reported no…

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.

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