# NTSB DEN90LA074: Cessna 152, N4590P, Albuquerque, NM, March 16, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 16, 1990, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.060234, -106.619262 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0602&lon=-106.6193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17903
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17903/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA074

## Probable cause

THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS.

## 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
  - single engine aircraft
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE ENGINE QUIT THREE HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT SAID HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT KEEP IT RUNNING. THE PILOT SELECTED ROUGH TERRAIN, WITH ROLLING HILLS, COVERED BY BRUSH, AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR WAS TORN OFF, THE PLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. A POSTACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS CONTAINED ONLY TRACES OF FUEL. THE PILOT ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO LAND ON A DIRT ROAD. HOWEVER, WHEN HE SAW COWS ON THE ROAD HE ELECTED TO LAND IN THE ROUGH TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4590P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4590P), registered now, S/N 15284774, built 1980 (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: 15284774
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Aeromech
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: SDL, SCOTTSDALE, AZ
- Destination: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 62 total, 41 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °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 19900316004649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900316004649A), Mar 16, 1990: Cessna 152, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. Landed in scrub brush and nosed over.

## Other investigations on N4590P (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 SEA88LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88LA124), Jul 8, 1988: Cessna 152 (N4590P), Roche Harbor, WA, substantial damage

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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