# NTSB FTW00LA260: Cessna 152, N6107Q, Blanchard, LA, September 18, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 18, 2000, 00:05 local (05:05 UTC) - Place: Blanchard, LA - Coordinates: 32.599781, -93.860801 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5998&lon=-93.8608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA260 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50274/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA260 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to refuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors were the dark night light conditions and lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6107Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6107Q-2000-12-07), registration cancelled 2000-12-07, S/N 15285132 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285132 - Airframe hours: 1750 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Royal Air - Registered owner: Glenn Adams - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 18, 2000, 67 hours before - Departed: AXS, ALTUS, OK - Destination: DTN, SHREVEPORT, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 39 total, 1 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SHV, 10 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 20000918014619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000918014619A), Sep 18, 2000: Cessna 152, Mooringsport, LA, No damage. (-23) Student pilot acquired key to N6107Q, a Cessna 152, from an employee not familar with pilot qualification or intention to conduct unauthorized cross… 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.