# NTSB FTW89LA116: Cessna 152, N45955, Addison, TX, June 24, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 24, 1989, 12:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Addison, TX
- Coordinates: 32.960613, -96.830039 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9606&lon=-96.8300&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22883
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22883/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA116

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE STUDENT'S INSTRUCTOR PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS:  THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, flight instructor(on ground) (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, flight instructor(on ground) (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED THE HOME AIRPORT WITH FULL FUEL AT APRX 0815 CDT. AN ABORTED LANDING & A TOUGH-&-GO WERE PERFORMED AT AN INTERMEDIATE AIRPORT BEFORE LANDING AT ABOUT 1045 CDT. THE PILOT DEPARTED ON THE RETURN FLIGHT AT ABOUT 1115 & CRASHED LANDED ABOUT 5 MI SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. THE HOBBS METER RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN 3.8 HRS ON THE TRIP. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE WING TANKS OR IN THE AREA OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE EMERGENCLY LANDING OCCURRED ON ROUGH TERRAIN. DURING THE LANDING, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. AN FAA COORDINATOR REPORTED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT'S INSTRUCTOR WAS RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCED AND DID NOT CONDUCT A THOROUGH ENOUGH EVALUATION OF THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT PLANNING BEFORE AUTHORIZING THE TRIP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45955](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45955-1989-08-16), registration cancelled 1989-08-16, S/N 15282959 (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: 15282959
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Centerline Aviation
- Registered owner: Richard L. Kummer
- Departed: ARD, ARDMORE, OK
- Destination: ADS, ADDISON, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: ADS, Addison

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 43 total, 42 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ADS, 5 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 19890624017399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890624017399A), Jun 24, 1989: Cessna 152, Dallas, TX, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on a solo crosscountry flight. Landed downwind in field. Hit ditch. Nosed over.

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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