# NTSB BFO95LA092: Cessna 152, N211SP, Roanoke, VA, September 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1995, 11:52 local (15:52 UTC) - Place: Roanoke, VA - Coordinates: 37.309902, -79.899192 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3099&lon=-79.8992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9080 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9080/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA092 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PLANNING/PREPARATION, HER LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND SOFT TERRAIN IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE HAD NOT FLOWN IN THIS MAKE OF AIRPLANE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH ITS FUEL MIXTURE LEANING PROCEDURE. ON THE DAY BEFORE A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, SHE REFUELED THE AIRPLANE AND FLEW IT ABOUT .4 HOURS. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT REFUELED BEFORE THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S ESTIMATED TIME EN ROUTE WAS TWO HOURS AND FORTY MINUTES. HOWEVER, DURING THE FLIGHT, THE GROUND SPEED WAS LESS THAN SHE HAD PLANNED, AND VECTORS AROUND TRAFFIC, AS WELL AS OTHER DELAYS, WERE ENCOUNTERED. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS AND FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT HAYFIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS OR FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE WRECKAGE AREA. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 1995, at 1152 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N211SP, experienced a loss of engine power while on approach to the Roanoke Regional Airport, Roanoke, VA. The airplane was destroyed during the emergency landing. The pilot received minor injuries. An instrument flight plan had been filed and activated. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Jefferson/Jackson County Airport, Jefferson, Georgia, at approximately 0835 eastern daylight time. The pilot stated that the airplane's fuel tanks were filled the previous evening. The pilot reported that she then flew the airplane for 4 tenths of an hour doing touch and go landings. The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection the next morning, the fuel tanks appeared full and no one had flown the airplane after her flight the previous evening. The pilot stated that it was her understanding that the accident airplane had the capability of four hours of flight. She reported that the airplane's fuel tanks held 24.5 gallons of usable fuel and the fuel consumption rate was approximately 6 gallons per hour. The pilot subtracted the .4 hour flown the evening prior and calculated that there should have been approximately 3.6 hours of fuel onboard. The pilot concluded there was plenty of fuel for the planned 2 hour and 40 minute flight to Roanoke, Virginia. The Piper Cherokee 140 that the pilot normally flew, was not available for this trip. The pilot stated that she had not flown in the accident make/model airplane for some time, and was not familiar with the fuel mixture leaning procedures in the accident airplane. The instrument rated pilot stated that during the flight she calculated her ground speed as less than what she had planned. She also reported that vectors around traffic and other delays she encountered while en route on an IFR flight plan extended her flight time. About three hours and fifteen minutes after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 10 miles from the destination airport, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot stated the engine restarted briefly during the emergency descent, then stopped again. The pilot made a forced landing in a soft hayfield. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. Posaccident examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction, and no usable fuel in either of the fuel tanks. Examination of the accident site revealed no evidence of aviation fuel spillage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N211SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N211SP-1996-02-16), registration cancelled 1996-02-16, S/N 15280498 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15280498 - Airframe hours: 3688 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Allen Aerial Services, Inc - Registered owner: Maxey R. Allen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1995, 19 hours before - Departed: 19A, JEFFERSON, GA - Destination: ROA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 341 total, 117 in this make and model, 256 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19950902027579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950902027579A), Sep 2, 1995: Cessna 152, Roanoke, VA, Destroyed. Departed without topping fuel tanks. Lost power ten miles short destinationl. No fuel. Failed to lean mixture. ## Other investigations on N211SP (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 ATL94LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA101), May 16, 1994: Cessna 152 (N211SP), Andrews, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft. 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.