# NTSB CHI94LA049: Cessna 152, N6124P, C0rnell, IL, December 11, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1993, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: C0rnell, IL
- Coordinates: 40.990497, -88.720664 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9905&lon=-88.7207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9439
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9439/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA049

## Probable cause

the pilot-in-command's misjudgment of fuel supply.  A factor was fuel exhaustion.

## 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 (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.  HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS CONDUCTED TO A FIELD.  THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.  SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIRPLANE WAS EXAMINED AND NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE FOUND.  THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUART OF FUEL IN EACH TANK WHICH IS LESS THAN THE MANUFACTURER'S LISTED UNUSABLE FUEL.

## Factual narrative

On December 11, 1993, at 1700 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N6124P, registered to Clark Aviation, Inc., of Bloomington, Illinois, and operated by a student pilot, experienced a loss of engine power followed by a forced landing in a field near Cornell, Illinois.  The airplane nosed over on landing and received substantial damage.  The pilot reported no injuries.  The solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions.  A VFR flight plan was on file.  The flight departed Aurora, Illinois, at 1600, with the intended destination of Bloomington, Illinois.

In his written statement the pilot indicated that there was no mechanical failure in the airplane; however, he did not indicate the nature of the engine problem.

The student and flight instructor do not know how much fuel was on the airplane at the time of the original departure.  The student's flight instructor stated that prior to his departure from Bloomington on the cross country flight, the student stated that he had stuck his finger in each tank and was able to detect fuel in both tanks; however, no fuel was added prior to departure.  Aurora is the only known stop on the flight and no fuel was added at that stop.  Straight line distance for the intended round robin trip was 158 nautical miles.

A post accident examination of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-impact mechanical problem.  The airplane did remain inverted for four days; however, when turned over no evidence of fuel was found in or on the ground and approximately one quart of fuel was collected from each tank, which is less than the manufacturer's listed unusable fuel.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6124P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6124P-1996-10-22), registration cancelled 1996-10-22, S/N 15284979 (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: 15284979
- Airframe hours: 5245
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Clark Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1993, 58 hours before
- Departed: ARR, AURORA, IL
- Destination: BMI, BLOOMINGTON, IL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; student; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BMI, 32 nm away

## 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 19931211001459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931211001459A), Dec 11, 1993: Cessna 152, Cornell, IL, Substantial damage. Lost engine power on solo cross country. Nosed over on forced landing. No evidence of fuel. CFI failed insure fuel.

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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