# NTSB ERA10CA433: Cessna 152, N24870, Miami, FL, August 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2010, 14:21 local (18:21 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.647777, -80.432777 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6478&lon=-80.4328&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77010 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA433 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77010/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77010 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA433 ## Probable cause The pilots' inadequate fuel planning, resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); 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) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); 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: Ditching](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 186 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/441/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the two private pilots reported that they landed at numerous airports before returning back to the original airport. About 15 miles south of the destination, the engine began to run rough and experienced a loss of power. After the airplane landed in a pond, one of the pilots reported to a witness that the airplane had run out of fuel. A postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that no fuel was in the right tank and only 4 pints of fuel was in the left tank. ## Factual narrative According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the two private pilots reported that after departure, they proceeded to several airports for landings, before stopping at a fourth airport where they added air to the nose tire and took on 20.83 gallons of fuel. After a subsequent departure, the pilots flew the airplane south to two other airports, before turning north toward the original departure airport. About 15 miles south of the original departure airport, the engine began to run roughly, then finally quit. A witness stated that he observed the airplane just north of his position, with the engine not running, and heading east, when it made a right turn back towards his position and descended into a retention pond. The witness ran over to the pond and found that the two pilots had swum to shore. One of the pilots told the witness that they had "run out of fuel,” and a subsequent examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector after recovery from the pond found no fuel in the right tank and only 4 pints of fuel in the left tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24870](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24870-2013-05-03), registration cancelled 2013-05-03, S/N 15280426, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 (NO SERIES) - 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: 15280426 - Airframe hours: 9498 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dean International, Inc - Registered owner: L & W Aircraft Investment LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 22, 2010, 26 hours before - Departed: IMM, Immokalee, FL - Destination: TMB, Miami, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total, 100 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: TMB, 8 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 20100818043039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100818043039A), Aug 18, 2010: Cessna 152, Palmetto Bay, FL, Substantial damage. This inspector and inspector hazel arrived at dean international flight school at approximately 1745 hours to interview the pilots. The pilots on the aircraft… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77010. 792 KB in all. - Reports from Federal Agencies; FAA Inspectors Statement (item 1, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies;%20FAA%20Inspectors%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies; FAA Inspectors Statement 2 (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336451&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies;%20FAA%20Inspectors%20Statement%202-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports; Fuel Receipt. (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336452&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports;%20Fuel%20Receipt.-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Digital Photo 1; Right wing damage. (item 5, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%201;%20Right%20wing%20damage.-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo 2; Damaged Flap Handle. (item 6, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%202;%20Damaged%20Flap%20Handle.-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 7, .PDF, 378 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337437&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Digital Photo 3; Fuel Guages. (item 8, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336456&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%203;%20Fuel%20Guages.-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo 4; Right wing damage. (item 9, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336457&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%204;%20Right%20wing%20damage.-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo 5; Fuel water separation. (item 10, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336458&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%205;%20Fuel%20water%20separation.-Master.PDF 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.