# NTSB CEN19LA064: Cessna 152, N6202M, Horseshoe Bay, TX, December 29, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 2018, 20:15 local (Dec 29, 2018, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Horseshoe Bay, TX - Coordinates: 30.532777, -98.323608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5328&lon=-98.3236&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98882 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98882/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98882 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA064 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight fuel planning, which resulted in the total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a personal, cross-country flight with one passenger onboard. The pilot reported that, about 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hours into the flight, the engine started to lose power. The pilot contacted air traffic control for vectors to the nearest airport. The pilot then checked the gauges and applied carburetor heat. The engine initially responded; however, a few minutes later, the engine lost all power, and the pilot's additional attempts to restore power were unsuccessful. The pilot did not think that the airplane could reach the nearest airport, so he established a glide for an off-airport forced landing, during which the airplane impacted trees and terrain and sustained substantial damage. During recovery of the airplane wreckage, the fuel tanks were found intact and empty. Additionally, there was no evidence of fuel leakage on the ground. The pilot reported that the airplane ran out of fuel and that the accident could have been prevented by better calculation and review of distance, fuel, and time in flight. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 2018, about 2015 central standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N6202M, impacted terrain after a loss of engine power en route to Kelly Field Airport (KSKF), San Antonio, Texas. The pilot and one passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing. The airplane was registered to and operated by Flyokair, LLC, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane departed Shawnee, Oklahoma, about 1655. The pilot reported that he had been airborne about 2 hours, and that he should reach his destination airport in about 15 minutes. About 30-45minutes later, he stated the engine started to lose power. He contacted air traffic control for vectors to the nearest airport. The pilot then looked at the gauges; oil pressure, oil temperature, and fuel gauges, which indicated the following: left fuel gauge ½ and right gauge less than ½. He added that he might have to land on the highway, since he didn't think he could make an airport. In an attempt to restore engine power, the pilot applied carburetor heat, the engine responded, and he was able to climb and gain altitude. Since the engine responded after he applied carburetor heat, he thought the engine may have experienced carburetor icing. A few minutes later, the engine lost power, and additional attempts to restore power were unsuccessful. He established a glide and picked out terrain for the forced landing. The airplane then impacted trees and terrain. The airplane recovery crew noted that the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident. The fuel tanks were empty and no evidence that fuel had leaked onto the ground. They added the fuel tanks had not been breached during the accident. On the NTSB's 6120 form, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, under the section: Recommendation (How could this accident/incident have been prevented?). The pilot noted (in part): Better calculation and review of distance, fuel in time, and time in flight. During a follow-up conversation with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot did not clarify how he checked the fuel tanks before departure; however, he didn't add fuel before departure. The pilot added that he had talked with the airplane's owner and admitted he ran of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6202M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6202M-2021-06-05), registration cancelled 2021-06-05, S/N 15284638, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 (No Series) - 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: 15284638 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 14182.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 SERIES 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2018 - Departed: KSNL, Shawnee, OK - Destination: KSKF, San Antonio, TX - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 21, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 383 total, 259 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KDZB ## 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 20181228021909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181228021909A), Dec 28, 2018: Cessna 152, Horseshoe Bay, TX, Substantial damage. On December 28, 2018 at 2008 CDT, a Cessna 152 bearing registration number N6202M, registered to fly ok air LLC, crashed in a wooded are 16 miles southwest of… ## Other investigations on N6202M (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 FTW84LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA134), Feb 15, 1984: Cessna 152 (N6202M), Stillwater, OK, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98882. 11.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 10.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470922&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Recovery Crew (item 2, .PDF, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470923&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Recovery%20Crew-Master.PDF - Memo (item 3, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470924&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-Master.PDF - Flight Aware Track (excerpt) (item 4, .PDF, 275 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470925&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Aware%20Track%20(excerpt)-Master.PDF - Photo (item 5, .PDF, 1 photo, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF 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.