# NTSB ATL98LA046: Cessna 152, N48878, Americus, GA, February 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 1998, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Americus, GA - Coordinates: 32.070285, -84.220344 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0703&lon=-84.2203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3972 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3972/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA046 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision, which led to fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a forced landing on unprepared terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis During a cross-country flight, the engine lost power as the pilot was descending to land at the destination airport. The pilot made an emergency landing in a field before reaching the airport, and the airplane was damaged. On-scene investigation of the accident revealed no usable fuel remaining in the fuel tanks and no evidence of fuel leakage. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 1998, at 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N48878, collided with the ground while descending into Souther Field Airport in Americus, Georgia. The solo instructional flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Orlando Executive Airport at 1035 eastern standard time. According to the pilot, the engine began running roughly during descent. The pilot stated he could not hold altitude and made an emergency landing into a field. The airplane traveled for 300 feet on the ground before it flipped over and came to rest. According to the Federal Aviation Administration's Operations Inspector who participated in the investigation of the accident, the pilot planned on his navigation log for 37.5 gallons of fuel to be available for this flight. The aircraft was properly placarded 13 gallons in each tank which would allow for approximately 4 hours of total fuel. After a 15 minute runnup and a flight time of 3 hours and 23 minutes, the pilot reported a loss of power. The on scene investigation revealed no usable fuel remaining in the tanks and no evidence of fuel leakage. The engine was restarted after fuel was provided. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48878](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48878), registered now, S/N 15281023, 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 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15281023 - Airframe hours: 4723 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Airline Training Academy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ORL, ORLANDO, FL - Destination: ACJ, GA - Airport: ACJ, Souther Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 107 total, 70 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 256° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ABY, 30 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 19980218001349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980218001349A), Feb 18, 1998: Cessna 152, Americus, GA, Substantial damage. Lost power near destination. Nosed over landing in field. Fuel exhaustion. Cessna 150 and 152 limited fuel supply. (.4)during a cross-country flight, the… 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.