FTW00LA260

The 39-hour student pilot was making a non-endorsed night solo cross-country flight. During the return flight, the pilot 'went further south than had planned', became 'lost' and was radar vectored to his destination. Approximately 10 miles north of the destination airport, at 2,000 feet agl, 3 hours and 35 minutes into the flight, the engine started 'sputtering and quit.' Due to darkness, the pilot could not find a suitable landing area, and subsequently, the airplane impacted trees approximately 10 miles northwest of the airport. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left and right fuel tanks were empty, and the fuel selector valve was in the ON position.

On September 18, 2000, at 0005 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, single-engine airplane, N6107Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Blanchard, Louisiana. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. The airplane was owned by a private individual and operated by Royal Air of Shreveport, Louisiana. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The solo cross-country accident flight originated from Altus Municipal Airport (AXS) near Altus, Oklahoma, at 2030, and was destined for Shreveport Downtown Airport (DTN), near Shreveport, Louisiana.

During a telephone interview with an NTSB investigator, the 39-hour student pilot stated that he departed DTN, at 1615, for AXS (located approximately 310 nautical miles northwest), and arrived AXS, at 1905. The student pilot received a computer weather briefing, refueled the aircraft, and departed back to DTN. During the return flight, the student pilot "went further south than had planned", became "lost", and contacted Fort Worth Center for radar vectors. Fort Worth Center vectored the student pilot from Wichita Falls, Texas, to Longview, Texas, and handed off communication to Shreveport Approach Control.

The student pilot reported that approximately 10 miles northwest of DTN, while at 2,000 feet msl, the engine started "sputtering and quit." The student pilot advised air traffic control of the problem and looked for a place to land. Due to darkness, the pilot could not find a suitable landing area, and subsequently, the airplane impacted treetops. The treetops "grabbed" the airplane, and the airplane come to rest nose low in the top of the trees. The student pilot stated that after 5 to 10 seconds, the airplane fell from the treetops and impacted the ground in a nose low attitude. The total duration of the flight was 3 hours and 35 minutes.

An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the left and right fuel tanks were empty and the fuel selector valve was in the ON position. The student pilot reported that the left fuel gauge indicated "close to empty" and the right fuel gauge indicated "under half." The inspector stated the wings, empennage, main landing gear, and engine firewall were structurally damaged.

During a telephone interview with an NTSB investigator, the student pilot's flight instructor stated the student pilot was not endorsed for a solo cross-country flight.