# NTSB ERA15LA342: Cessna 152, N6141Q, Miami, FL, September 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 2015, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.646667, -80.560836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6467&lon=-80.5608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91931 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91931/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91931 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA342 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (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) (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) - [Approach: 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: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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 The private pilot reported that, before taking off to practice instrument approaches in the local traffic pattern, he checked the airplane's fuel status by looking at the cockpit quantity indicators and looking into the fuel tanks. After conducting three touch-and-go instrument landing system landings, the pilot was attempting a GPS landing. While established on radar vectors for an instrument approach and at 1,500 ft mean sea level, he observed engine "roughness," followed by a loss of power. He attempted a forced landing on a road; however, he subsequently chose to land in a muddy area within the boundary of a national park instead. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel system was undamaged, and there was no evidence of fuel leakage at the scene. The fuel tanks were drained, and 0.45 gallon of fuel was recovered from the left tank, and no fuel was found in the right tank. The operator reported that, at the time of the accident, the airplane had been flown for about 4.6 hours since its last refueling. The airplane had a usable fuel capacity of 24.5 gallons, and its fuel consumption rate in cruise flight was about 6.1 gallons per hour; therefore, the usable fuel would have been consumed during the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 2015, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6141Q, force landed following a total loss of engine power during a practice instrument approach to Miami Executive Airport (TMB), Miami, Florida. The private pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was operated by Dean International, Inc. under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated at TMB about 1110. The private pilot, who was seated in the left, cockpit seat, reported the following. He checked the aircraft fuel state by looking at the cockpit quantity indicators and by looking into the tanks. After completing the other preflight tasks, he entered the local pattern for practice instrument approaches. While established on radar vectors for a fourth approach, at 1,500 feet above mean sea level and on a westerly heading, he observed engine "roughness" followed by a loss of rpm. He attempted a forced landing on a road; however, he elected to land in a muddy area within the boundary of the Everglades National Park instead. After the airplane came to rest, the pilots secured the airplane and first responders arrived at the accident scene. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The wreckage was located within the confines of the Everglades National Park, in a grass area. No evidence of fuel or oil leaks was observed around the wreckage. Both wing fuel tanks were intact and unbreached. The fuselage and engine firewall sustained structural damage from impact forces. The nose wheel and propeller were broken off due to impact forces. The inspector returned the next day and drained the fuel tanks with the assistance of the operator's maintenance personnel. The right wing tank contained no fuel. The left wing tank was drained and its contents were placed in a 5-gallon container; it was later quantified at 0.45 gallon. Once the wreckage was recovered from the accident site, the inspector completed his examination of the engine and found no evidence of an anomaly or failure. The operator reported that the airplane was last refueled on September 4th, the day prior to the accident; it was then flown an additional 2.2 hours that day. The accrued time on the airplane during the accident flight was about 2.4 hours; therefore, a total of 4.6 hours accrued since the last refueling before the accident. The capacity of the airplane fuel tanks was 26 gallons, including 24.5 gallons of useable fuel. According to the performance chart for the Cessna 152 (cruise at 2,000 feet pressure altitude, 2,400 rpm, standard temperature, and 101 knots true airspeed) fuel consumption was about 6.1 gallons per hour. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6141Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6141Q-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N 15285164 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285164 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 8133 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 118 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dean International Inc. - Registered owner: C&G Aircraft Maintenance Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 2015 - Departed: TMB, Miami, FL - Destination: TMB, Miami, FL - Airport: TMB, Miami Executive, runway 09L, 5,003 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 18, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 95 total, 95 in this make and model, 16 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2015; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 138 total, 75 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: TMB, 7 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 20150905015799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150905015799A), Sep 5, 2015: Cessna 152, Miami, FL, Destroyed. While conducting practice instrument approaches, 2.4 hours into flight, ran out of fuel resulting in engine failure and forced landing in everglades national… ## Other investigations on N6141Q (2) 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 ERA13LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA187), Apr 4, 2013: Cessna 152 (N6141Q), Miami, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the No. 3 exhaust valve. Contributing to the accident was the airplane operator’s failure to follow the engine manufacturer’s recommended engine… - [NTSB CHI90LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA060), Jan 8, 1990: Cessna 152 (N6141Q), Rochester, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND/OR PROPERLY COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS AND THE DITCH. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 4, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91931. 8.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement - Abreu (item 2, .PDF, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20-%20Abreu-Master.PDF - Correspondence - FAA Inspector Porche (item 3, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436371&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%20Porche-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous Information - Time Log and Dispatch Record (item 4, .PDF, 444 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20Information%20-%20Time%20Log%20and%20Dispatch%20Record-Master.PDF - Fuel Consumption Chart (item 5, .PDF, 322 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Consumption%20Chart-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records - Excerpts (item 6, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436381&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20-%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 7 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.