# NTSB ERA09CA142: Cessna 152, N48570, Titusville, FL, January 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 24, 2009, 20:50 local (Jan 25, 2009, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.580425, -80.819091 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5804&lon=-80.8191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73275 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73275/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA142 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following a 4.2-hour cross-country flight, which included 11 touch-and-go landings, the pilot of the Cessna 152 was on final approach to land. About 400 feet above the ground the airplane's engine lost power and the airplane impacted trees short of the runway. The pilot reported that during the last circuit around the airport traffic pattern the fuel gauges showed that the right fuel tank was 1/4 full and the left fuel tank was less than 1/4 full. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the scene and noted no evidence of fuel spillage. After the airplane was recovered, approximately 3 to 4 total ounces of fuel were drained from all of the fuel drains. The airplane was serviced with 2 gallons of fuel and the engine was run at 1,200 rpm for 3 minutes with no anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative Following a 4.2 hour cross-country flight, which included 11 touch-and-go landings, the pilot of the Cessna 152 was on final approach to land. About 400 feet above the ground the airplane's engine "quit." The pilot was unable to reach the runway and the airplane impacted trees short of the runway. He reported that during the last circuit around the airport traffic pattern the fuel gauges showed that the right fuel tank was 1/4 full and the left fuel tank was less than 1/4 full. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the airplane at the scene and noted no evidence of fuel spillage. After the airplane was recovered, approximately 3 to 4 total ounces of fuel were drained from all of the fuel drains. The airplane was serviced with 2 gallons of fuel and the engine was run at 1,200 rpm for 3 minutes with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48570](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48570-2017-05-15), registration cancelled 2017-05-15, S/N 15280918, 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: 15280918 - Airframe hours: 14720.9 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Famco Aviation, Inc - Registered owner: Debenair Aviation Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 2008 - Departed: TIX, Titusville, FL - Destination: TIX, Titusville, FL - Airport: TIX, Space Coast Regional Airport, runway 18, 7,319 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 550 total, 36 in this make and model, 386 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: TIX, 1 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 20090124002749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090124002749A), Jan 24, 2009: Cessna 152, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On 01/24/2009 pilot [privacy data omitted] operated Cessna 152 serial number 15280919 registeration number N48570. He stated he fueled the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N48570 (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 MIA78DLA46](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78DLA46), Jul 25, 1978: Cessna A188B (N48570), Moultrie, GA, 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. --- 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.