# NTSB FTW83LA061: Cessna 152, N6396Q, Killeen, TX, March 3, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 1983, 01:08 local (07:08 UTC)
- Place: Killeen, TX
- Coordinates: 31.08995, -97.710601 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0900&lon=-97.7106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20781
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20781/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA061

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, dual student (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON THE RETURN LEG OF AN OUT-AND-BACK, NIGHT, CROSS-COUNTRY FLT. THE ACFT HAD 26 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN IT DEPARTED KILLEEN, TX. REPORTEDLY, THERE WAS 18 GAL ON BOARD WHEN IT TOOK OFF FROM DALLAS, TX. THE FLT WAS INITIALLY CONDUCTED IN VFR WEATHER WITH NO FLT PLAN. DURING THE RETURN TRIP, THE WINDS WERE OBSERVED TO BE CONSIDERABLY STRONGER THAN FORECASTED. APRX 4 MI SOUTH OF MCGREGOR, TX, AN IFR CLEARANCE TO KILLEEN WAS OBTAINED AFTER DETERIORATING WX WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE ACFT WAS VECTORED FOR AN ILS LOCALIZER APPROACH. IN THE VICINITY OF THE OUTER MARKER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING A NIGHT LANDING. THE ELAPSED TIME AFTER DEPARTURE DALLAS WAS 2 HRS 28 MIN. AT 6.5 GAL/HR CRUISE FUEL FLOW, APRX 1.75 GAL OF FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN REMAINING. APRX 1.5 GAL OF FUEL FOR THIS ACFT IS UNUSABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6396Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6396Q-1983-12-30), registration cancelled 1983-12-30, S/N 15285243 (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: 15285243
- Airframe hours: 393
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Central Texas College
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 12, 1983, 93 hours before
- Departed: DAL, DALLAS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ILE, Killeen Muni, runway 1, 4,446 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 461 total, 256 in this make and model, 288 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 170° at 15 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ILE, 2 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 19830303005829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830303005829A), Mar 3, 1983: Cessna 152, Killeen, TX, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel after breaking out of clouds on a IFR approach. Struck trees and crashed between two mobile homes.

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.

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