# NTSB BFO96LA035: Cessna 152, N47316, Hudson, OH, December 30, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 1995, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Hudson, OH - Coordinates: 41.239418, -81.450744 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2394&lon=-81.4507&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 17, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9124 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9124/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA035 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power due to an inadequate supply of fuel. Factors relating to the accident were: false fuel quantity indication from the left fuel quantity gauge, and swampy terrain in the emergency 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 (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - swampy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that when he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, the fuel tanks '...appeared to be full. They could have been no more than 2 inches down.' The pilot reported that as the airplane neared the destination airport after about 2 3/4 hours of flight, the engine power began to fluctuate. He stated that he checked the fuel quantity gauges and '...the right [fuel tank] was empty and the left was 3/4 full.' He attempted to regain power by pumping the primer and throttle. He reported that '...I went into about a 60 [degree] bank to the right to see if fuel would move between the tanks...motor caught and cut out a few times. When I leveled off the engine quit completely and the prop stopped turning.' During an emergency landing, the airplane touched down in a frozen/swampy area and nosed over. Postaccident investigation of the aircraft revealed no fuel in the fuel tanks, fuel strainer or carburetor. No preimpact mechanical malfunction was found. Postaccident examination of refueling records/airplane logs revealed that the airplane had flown about 4 3/4 hours since the most recent refueling. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 1995, at 1630 eastern standard time (EST), a Cessna 152, N47316, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing in a marshy field near Hudson, Ohio. The private pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the pleasure flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Toledo, Ohio, at about 1530 EST. The pilot stated that when he did his pre-flight inspection before departing the airplane's home base of Portage, Ohio, he "...visually looked at the fuel tanks [and the] tanks appeared to be full. They could have been no more than 2 inches down." He stated that he departed on the cross country trip to Toledo, Ohio, at about 1345 EST. The pilot reported that he reached Toledo at about 1525 EST, made a touch and go landing, then began the return trip to Portage. The pilot reported that he was about 10 miles west of the Portage airport when the engine "...RPM's dropped from 2350 to 2000 and back up again." The pilot stated that he then checked his fuel quantity gauges and that the "...right [fuel tank] was empty and the left was 3/4 full." The pilot reported that as he continued the flight, "...the engines RPM's dropped again." He reported that he tried to regain engine power by manipulating the primer and throttle, without success. The pilot stated: "...I went into about a 60 [degree] bank to the right to see if fuel would move between the tanks. The motor caught and cut out a few times. When I leveled off the engine quit completely and the prop stopped turning." The pilot reported that when the engine lost power completely, he selected the nearest field and prepared for the emergency landing. The pilot reported that when the airplane touched down, he realized that the field he had chosen for the emergency landing was actually a frozen lake. The pilot stated that the airplane touched down on "...muddy swamp water about two feet deep...the nose gear touched down...stuck into the mud and the plane flipped over." The pilot's written statement indicated that he had 64.6 hours of total flight experience, including 51 hours in the accident make and model airplane. The pilot also stated that there was no mechanical malfunction. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Investigator reported that postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The FAA Inspector stated that there was no evidence of useable fuel present in the fuel tanks, fuel strainer, or carburetor. The FAA Inspector reported that the fuel tanks were not compromised. Aircraft recovery personnel told the FAA that there were no fuel stains in the snow when they retrieved the wreckage. The FAA Inspector stated that examination of the airplane refueling records/flight logs revealed that the accident airplane had flown 4 3/4 hours since its most recent refueling. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47316](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47316-2000-08-29), registration cancelled 2000-08-29, S/N 15283213 (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: 15283213 - Airframe hours: 5793 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Chinn, Robert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 10, 1995, 61 hours before - Departed: TOL, TOLEDO, OH - Destination: 29G, RAVENNA, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 65 total, 51 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19951230042809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951230042809A), Dec 30, 1995: Cessna 152, Hudson, OH, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Prop stopped. Low fuel. Landed muddy field. Nosed over. Fuel tanks were empty. (-23) the pilot stated: prior to his check out, that he… ## Other investigations on N47316 (3) 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 BFO94LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA051), Feb 28, 1994: Cessna 152 (N47316), Bath, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the frozen, snow covered terrain. - [NTSB ATL89LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89LA141), May 4, 1989: Cessna 152 (N47316), Ravenna, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT IN COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE LANDING IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND. THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT EXCEEDED THE PUBLISHED DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND CAPABILITY OF THE… - [NTSB CHI81FEI05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEI05), Oct 31, 1980: Cessna 152 (N47316), Port Clinton, OH, 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.