# NTSB CHI98LA321: Cessna 152, N89648, Beecher, IL, August 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 1998, 21:30 local (Aug 15, 1998, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Beecher, IL - Coordinates: 41.340854, -87.609519 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3409&lon=-87.6095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43725 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43725/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA321 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to fuel mismanagement by the pilot-in-command. The rough terrain was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot then reported that he had landed at Greater Kankakee Airport to obtain fuel but the fuel services at the airport were closed, so the pilot departed at approximately 2105 to complete his return to Lansing Municipal Airport when the engine quit and the pilot then executed a forced landing into a field. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed no fuel to be present in either tank. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 1998, at 2130 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89648, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing into an agricultural field near Beecher, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed the Greater Kankakee Airport near Kankakee, Illinois, at 2105, and was returning to Lansing Municipal Airport near Lansing, Illinois. In an interview, the pilot stated that he had departed Lansing Municipal Airport, at approximately 1830, en route to Coles County Memorial Airport near Matoon, Illinois. During that leg of the flight, the pilot reported that the aircraft radios were intermittent and eventually "went out" between Kankakee, Illinois and Champaign, Illinois. To avoid transiting Class C airspace, the pilot stated that he diverted the University of Illinois-Willard Airport's airspace near Champaign, Illinois and arrived at Coles County Airport at approximately 1945. No fuel was obtained and the pilot departed at 2020 or 2030, according to the pilot's statement, to return to Lansing Municipal Airport. During the return, the pilot stated that he diverted the University of Illinois-Willard Airport's Class C airspace toward the east. The pilot then reported that he had landed at Greater Kankakee Airport to obtain fuel but the fuel services at the airport were closed. The pilot then departed at approximately 2105 to complete his return to Lansing Municipal Airport when the engine quit at which point the pilot then executed a forced landing into a field. Examination of the fuel tanks by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed no fuel to be present in either tank. The pilot had logged a total of 150 hours, 6 hours of which were in the previous 90 days. Examination of the pilot's logbook revealed that the pilot received a biennial flight review (BFR), in a Cessna 172, on June 17, 1998. The BFR was a local flight lasting 0.9 hours of flight time with one landing logged. Federal Aviation Regulation 61.56 Flight Review states, "... a flight review consists of a minimum of 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training. "BFR-stalls, steep turns, emergencies, turns, rudder usage", along with the commercial flight instructor's signature, was entered under the remarks section of the BFR entry. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) did not receive NTSB form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89648](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89648), registered now, S/N 15282816, built 1977 (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: 1528216 - Airframe hours: 5400 - Engines: Lycoming 0235-42C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Skyline Aviation - Registered owner: Aircraft Six Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KANKAKEE, IL - Destination: IGQ, LANSING, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 150 total, 6 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IKK, 18 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 19980814021019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980814021019A), Aug 14, 1998: Cessna 152, Beecher, IL, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 14, 1998, at 2130 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N89648, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing near… 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.