# NTSB LAX00LA165: Cessna 152, N152SC, Fresno, CA, April 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 2000, 20:00 local (Apr 21, 2000, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Fresno, CA - Coordinates: 36.799404, -119.869781 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7994&lon=-119.8698&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49012/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA165 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion during cruise flight due to the student pilot becoming disoriented and lost. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - light condition - dusk - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - vehicle ## Analysis During a solo instructional flight, the student pilot's airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot made a forced landing in a parking lot and collided with a trailer. The student pilot, whose flight experience consisted of a total of 28 hours, of which 4 hours were as pilot-in-command, initiated the planned 1-hour-long local area flight that was supposed to be performed within a 25-mile radius of the departure airport, as authorized by his flight instructor. The student became disoriented and confused regarding his direction of flight and began flying east instead of west. Upon flying for 3.25 hours, and traveling about 117 miles east of the departure airport, fuel exhaustion occurred. ## Factual narrative On April 20, 2000, about 2000 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N152SC, operated by Flying Viking, Inc., Hayward, California, experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising over Fresno, California. The student pilot made a forced landing in a parking lot and collided with a trailer. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the solo instructional flight, which was performed under 14 CFR 91, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1645 from Hayward, California. The pilot indicated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he departed from Hayward during the daylight and only possessed a "San Francisco VFR Terminal Area Chart." The pilot was authorized to only fly within a 25-mile radius of Hayward. Minutes after taking off, the pilot became disoriented and confused regarding his location and direction of flight. The pilot further indicated that he was evidently lost, and he flew about 117 miles east until his fuel was totally exhausted. During the flight he was unable to raise anyone on the aircraft's radio. The pilot's certified flight instructor reported to the Safety Board investigator that he had authorized his student to perform a local area flight around Hayward. The student's total flying experience was about 28 hours, of which 4 hours were as pilot-in-command. The student was supposed to land after practicing for about 1 hour. Upon departure for the accident flight, the airplane had about 18 gallons of fuel in its tanks. The instructor said the student confused east for west and followed a roadway until arriving over the city of Fresno with empty fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N152SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N152SC-2008-02-26), registration cancelled 2008-02-26, S/N 15280265, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15280265 - Airframe hours: 9810 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flying Viking, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2000, 45 hours before - Departed: HWD, HAYWARD, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 26 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 149 °F, dew point 120 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAT, 9 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 20000420005179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000420005179A), Apr 20, 2000: Cessna 152, Fresno, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Seunghee back, a solo student pilot, depated the hayward executive (hwd) airport 16:45 hours pacific daylight time (PDT) for the Mt. Diablo practice… ## Other investigations on N152SC (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX87FA296](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87FA296), Aug 8, 1987: Cessna 152 (N152SC), Palo Alto, CA, minor damage 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.