- Date
- December 31, 1998, 12:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place
- Peaster, TX
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N25778Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 7, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19981231034459A
- Case key
- 45550
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot and passenger reported that they were returning to the airport, at 2,500 feet mean sea level, when the aircraft's 'engine quit without any hesitation, just like turning off a light switch.' The pilot initiated a forced landing and turned towards a private airstrip located 2 miles west of their position. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, and the aircraft impacted trees approximately 1/4 mile east of the airstrip. Examination of the accident site by the FAA inspector revealed evidence of fuel spillage. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Factual narrative
On December 31, 1998, at 1205 central standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, N25778, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Peaster, Texas. The private pilot and pilot rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to LJF Services, Inc. of Argyle, Texas, and operated by Split S Aviation of Fort Worth, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Hicks Airfield Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, at 1000, and departed an intermediate stop of Possum Kingdom Airport, Graford, Texas, about 25 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot and passenger reported that they were returning to Hicks Airfield Airport, at 2,500 feet msl, when the aircraft's "engine quit without any hesitation, just like turning off a light switch." The pilot initiated a forced landing and turned towards a private airstrip (BLO) located 2 miles west of their position. According to the passenger, the private airstrip "was the nearest place to put down the plane safely." The pilot was unable to restart the engine. The airplane was too low to reach the airstrip and collided with trees approximately 1/4 mile short of the airstrip.
Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed the empennage separated from the fuselage and was located in some trees. The airplane was found up against trees partially inverted with its nose pointing upward. Examination of the accident site revealed evidence of fuel spillage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N25778
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15280779
- Airframe hours
- 10,837
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Split S Aviation
- Registered owner
- Ljf Services, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 23, 1998 · 48 hours before
- Departed
- F35 · Graford, TX
- Destination
- T67 · Fort Worth, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 155 total · 100 in this make and model · 112 as pilot in command · 155 in the last 90 days · 63 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.