# NTSB CHI89DEE05: Cessna 152, N25848, Romeoville, IL, July 27, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 27, 1989, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Romeoville, IL
- Coordinates: 41.579746, -88.039268 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5797&lon=-88.0393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14186
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89DEE05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14186/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89DEE05

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
  - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft

## Analysis

FOLLOWING PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THEIR AIRPLANE, THE STUDENT PILOT TOLD HIS INSTRUCTOR THE AIRPLANE NEEDED FUEL BECAUSE IT INDICATED ONE QUARTER FULL. FROM THE QUANTITY INDICATORS, THE INSTRUCTOR ESTIMATED SUFFICIENT FUEL AND PROCEEDED WITH THE FLIGHT. THE PILOTS TOOK OFF TO PRACTICE TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AT AN OUTLYING FIELD. FORTY-FIVE MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER AND THE INSTRUCTOR EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. WHEN EXAMINED IN THE FIELD, NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY GROUND RUN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N25848 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 80816
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: A & M Aviation, doing business as A & M Aviation
- Registered owner: Andrew E James
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 7, 1989, 26 hours before
- Departed: LOT, JOLIET, IL
- Destination: LOT
- Airport: LOT, Lewis University

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 862 total, 283 in this make and model, 745 as pilot in command, 388 in the last 90 days, 106 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890727025449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890727025449A), Jul 27, 1989: Cessna 152, Romeoville, IL, Substantial damage. Engine failure on a 45 minute instructional flight nosed up landing in tall corn.

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.

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