# NTSB LAX91LA298: Cessna 152, N5533B, Indian Springs, NV, July 9, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 1991, 22:39 local (Jul 9, 1991, 05:39 UTC) - Place: Indian Springs, NV - Coordinates: 36.51033, -115.640975 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5103&lon=-115.6410&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 27278 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27278/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA298 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE PILOT BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED ; 2) THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS; 3) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEEK HELP IN A TIMELY FASHION; AND 4) THE LOSS OF HIS EYEGLASSES WITH THE RESULTANT VISUAL PROBLEMS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - weather condition - rain - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - correcting lenses, not worn, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS FLYING A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND HEAVY RAIN. HE SAID THAT HE BECAME DISORIENTED BECAUSE OF THE DARKNESS AND WEATHER. HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT SEE HIS MAGNETIC COMPASS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT FIND HIS GLASSES. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH TIME HE HAD BEEN FLYING BECAUSE HE LOST HIS WATCH AND THE AIRCRAFT'S CLOCK WAS INOPERABLE. AFTER FLYING AROUND DISORIENTED FOR AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME, HE CONTACTED AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITY FOR ASSISTANCE. ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AFTER HE CONTACTED THEM, THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT ENTERED A FORCED LANDING DESCENT. HE LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE GEAR AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND LESS THAN ONE CUP OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE COULD BE FOUND. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5533B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5533B), registered now, S/N 15283896 (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: 15283896 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 112 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aerleon, Inc. - Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000 - Departed: NONE, FURNACE CREEK, CA - Destination: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19910709027249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910709027249A), Jul 9, 1991: Cessna 152, Indian Springs, NV, Substantial damage. Flew into heavy rain. Unable find glasses got lost. Flew until fuel exhaustion. Landed nose first, flipped over. ## Other investigations on N5533B (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 WPR14CA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA075), Dec 24, 2013: Cessna 152 (N5533B), St. Ignatius, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain a stabilized approach for landing that resulted in a long landing and subsequent runway overrun. 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.