- Date
- August 26, 1997, 00:30 local (04:30 UTC)
- Place
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6216QCessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970826023719A
- Case key
- 3893
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the flight instructor's (CFI's) inaccurate assessment of fuel available for the flight, and his improper in-flight planning/decision by continuing the training flight with minimal fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The commercial-rated, student pilot stated that they landed the airplane at Orlando Executive Airport to refuel, but found the FBO was closed. He was advised by his instructor (CFI) that he had sufficient fuel for the flight to Palm Beach. They flew to Melbourne International Airport to 'do a touch and go.' While en-route to Palm Beach, the engine lost power, and the CFI took control of the airplane. The CFI declared an emergency due to low fuel, and was vectored to North County Airport, but was unable to reach it. The CFI landed the airplane on a dirt road, and the airplane collided with a mailbox and trees.
Factual narrative
On August 26, 1997, about 0030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6216Q, force landed in a residential area and collided with terrain, 12 miles north-northwest of the Palm Beach International Airport, Florida. The airplane was operated by the commercial student pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The instructor and student were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The student pilot stated that the engine had quit and they had to make a forced landing. The flight originated from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. The student pilot stated that they landed the airplane at Orlando Executive Airport to refuel, but found the FBO was closed. He was advised by his instructor that he had sufficient fuel for the flight to Palm Beach. They flew to Melbourne International Airport to "do a touch and go". While en-route to Palm Beach the engine quit and the instructor took control of the airplane and attempted restart procedures, but failed. The student pilot said, the instructor declared an emergency due to low fuel and was vectored to North County airport, but was unable to make it. The instructor landed the airplane on a dirt road and collided with a mailbox, and trees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6216Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15285198
- Airframe hours
- 14,809
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Executive Pilot Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Departed
- MLB · Melbourne, FL
- Destination
- PBI · Palm Beach, FL
- Airport
- F45 · North County
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,250 total · 250 in this make and model · 300 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 81 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.