Cessna 152 N49209 accident, Greeley, CO, Dec 16, 1988 · NTSB DEN89LA042

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalManeuvering - aerial application

In-flight planning/decision - inadequatePilot in commandCause

Fuel consumption calculations - improperPilot in commandCause

Fluid,fuel - exhaustionCause

Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor

Forced landingDescent - emergency

Terrain condition - roadway/highway

Terrain condition - icyFactor

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll

Object - pole

Analysis

The plt was flying a cross-country flight. She said that 3 miles from her destination, the engine quit when the plane ran out of fuel. A landing on an ice covered asphalt road was performed. During roll out, the left main gear went off the road and the left wing struck a telephone pole. The acft swung around 180 deg and came to rest in a field.

Aircraft

Registration: N49209
Reported as: Cessna 152
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 15281194
Airframe hours: 3,970
Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Operator: Air Link, Inc
Registered owner: James A Rutz
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · October 26, 1988 · 85 hours before
Departed: AIA · Alliance, NE
Destination: GXY · Greeley, CO
Flight plan: VFR
Airport: GXY · Greeley

N49209Registration cancelled Feb 18, 2010 · Cessna 152S/N 15281194 · Built 1977 Airframe modelCessna 152 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 35
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 127 total · 127 in this make and model · 73 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind: 330° at 32 knots, gusting 47
Visibility: 20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 9 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19881216054609ACessna 152 · Greeley, CORan out of fuel three miles short of destination. Landing on icy road struck a pole. Blamed excessive head wind.Dec 16, 1988 · N49209 · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N49209 · 3

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW95LA324Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRaton, NMThe pilot's inadvertent activation of the flaps. Factors in the accident were the weather conditions and the dark night.Jul 29, 1995 · Substantial damage NTSB DEN88LA019Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGreeley, COThe recently certificated private plt was taxiing his acft to rwy 9 for a night takeoff. Another acft began its takeoff roll on rwy 9. As a courtesy, the taxiing plt switched off his taxi light so as not to blind the other plt. The taxiing plt used the glow…Nov 4, 1987 · Substantial damage NTSB DEN86LA036Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGreeley, COAccording to the plt, during the landing roll the acft veered to the left of the rwy and struck a snow berm. The plt stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had held the 'nose wheel off the ground' longer and not relaxed his attention.Dec 1, 1985 · Substantial damage