# NTSB CEN21LA278: Cessna 152, N68851, Bridgeport, TX, June 17, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 17, 2021, 09:10 local (14:10 UTC) - Place: Bridgeport, TX - Coordinates: 33.09, -97.87 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0900&lon=-97.8700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - North Texas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103295 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103295/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103295 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA278 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inaccurate estimate of the fuel level during his preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight and a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [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) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); 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-cruise: 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) ## Analysis The private pilot reported the airplane had fuel exhaustion during cruise flight that resulted in a total loss of engine power and a forced landing in a field. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear and the pilot was able to keep the nose landing gear off the ground until the airplane traversed through a low area in the field, which caused the airplane to pitch down and the nose landing gear to collapse when it impacted the ground. The left wing rear spar was substantially damaged during the forced landing. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he visually inspected the airplane’s two 13-gallon fuel tanks before the flight and had estimated that each fuel tank was about ¾ full (about 19.5 gallons total). He did not utilize a calibrated dipstick to measure the actual fuel remaining in either fuel tank. According to flight track data, the loss of engine power occurred about 1 hour 25 minutes into the flight. The pilot stated that his inaccurate estimation of the fuel level before the flight had resulted in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight and a total loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68851](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68851-2026-08-06), registration cancelled 2026-08-06, S/N 15285340, built 1981 (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: 15285340 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 19740.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: US Aviation Academy - Registered owner: US Aviation Group LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2021, 42.8 hours before - Departed: AFW, Fort Worth, TX - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review August 7, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 162.2 total, 58.7 in this make and model, 29.9 in the last 90 days, 2.2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KXBP, 6 nm away - METAR: METAR KXBP 171415Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/21 A3007 RMK AO2 T02810205= ## 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 20210617007809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210617007809A), Jun 17, 2021: Cessna 152, Bridgeport, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot stated after 1.60 hours of flight the engine began to sputter and lose rpm's. pilot stated the engine eventually shutdown resulting in an emergency… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103295. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12818211&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Email correspondence with pilot (jarod April) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12818292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Email%20Correspondence%20With%20Pilot%20(Jarod%20April)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight track data (N68851) (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 360 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12817407&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Flight%20Track%20Data%20(N68851)-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 699 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12818584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Photos-Rel.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.