# NTSB DEN89LA050: Cessna 152 II, N46974, Gilcrest, CO, December 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 28, 1988, 17:05 local (Dec 29, 1988, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Gilcrest, CO
- Coordinates: 40.280208, -104.779067 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2802&lon=-104.7791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17654
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89LA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17654/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89LA050

## 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
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - open field
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PLT, WITH HIS WIFE AS A PAX, DEPARTED GREELEY, CO, ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT TO CLAYTON, NM. AFTER LANDING, THE PILOT HAD HIS AIRCRAFT REFUELED. IT TOOK 23.5 GALLONS OF FUEL TO FILL THE FUEL TANKS. THE PLT THEN TOOK OFF, FLEW 46 MILES SOUTHEAST, THEN TURNED AROUND FOR HIS RETURN FLT TO CO. HE ARRIVED IN THE DENVER AREA AND LANDED AT A SMALL AIRPORT EAST OF DENVER. HE THEN DEPARTED THE AIRPORT, WITHOUT REFUELING, AND FLEW TO ANOTHER AIRPORT NORTH OF DENVER. AGAIN, AFTER A SHORT TIME ON THE GROUND, HE DEPARTED WITHOUT REFUELING. ABOUT 7 MINUTES LATER, THE ENG QUIT AND THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A SNOW-COVERED FIELD DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. WRECKAGE RECOVERY PERSONNEL REPORTED FINDING ONLY 1 QUART OF FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT TANKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46974](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46974-2008-10-21), registration cancelled 2008-10-21, S/N 15283154, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 II
- 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: 15283154
- Airframe hours: 2748
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Larry J. Kuebrich, doing business as Air Link Training Center, Inc.
- Registered owner: Air Link Training Center, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 3, 1988, 50 hours before
- Departed: 2V2, LONGMONT, CO
- Destination: GXY, GREELEY, CO
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 135 total, 120 in this make and model, 91 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19881228056899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881228056899A), Dec 28, 1988: Cessna 152, Gilcrest, CO, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel shortly after leaving an airport. Nosed over landing in snow. Had failed to refuel and check fuel.

## Other investigations on N46974 (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX08CA264](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA264), Aug 10, 2008: Cessna 152 (N46974), Oceanside, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion that was caused by the pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations and failure to refuel the airplane en route.

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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