# NTSB LAX96LA145: Cessna 152, N24963, Carlsbad, CA, March 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 1996, 21:00 local (Mar 25, 1996, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Carlsbad, CA - Coordinates: 33.129409, -117.300491 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1294&lon=-117.3005&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 10, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29398 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA145 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29398/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA145 ## Probable cause inadequate preflight by the pilot, and subsequent fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. Darkness and trees in the emergency landing area were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - light condition - night (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to responding police officers, the pilot stated that the airplane ran out of fuel, while in flight at night. Subsequently, it collided with ground obstructions (trees) during a forced landing and was damaged. The officers observed only residual fuel in the tanks. In a written statement, the pilot said that during his preflight inspection, he looked inside the fuel tanks and noted that the fuel was about 1 to 2 inches below the filler neck. He assumed that the fuel gauges, which indicated over 3/4 full, were correct; and he estimated that about 2 hours 45 minutes of fuel was onboard. The pilot did not use a calibrated dipstick or other definitive means to quantify the amount of fuel in the tanks. He said that when the engine began to run rough, he looked at the fuel gauges, and they read zero. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 1996, about 2100 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N24963, collided with ground obstructions during a night forced landing on a road near Carlsbad, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of power. The aircraft was operated by California Wings of San Diego, and rented by the pilot for a local area personal night flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Montgomery Field, San Diego, California, on the evening of the accident at 1900. According to a telephone report from the responding police department, the pilot stated to responding police officers that he ran out of fuel. The officers observed only residual fuel in the tanks. The pilot has not responded to repeated written requests to complete a Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. The FAA San Diego Flight Standards District Office provided a written statement from the pilot, which was transmitted to them from the operator. The statement is attached. In the statement to the operator, the pilot said that during his preflight inspection he looked inside the fuel tanks and noted that the fuel was about 1 to 2 inches below the filler neck. He assumed that fuel gauges, which indicated over 3/4, were correct and he estimated that about 2 hours 45 minutes of fuel was onboard. The pilot did not use a calibrated dipstick or other definitive means to quantify the amount of fuel in the tanks. The pilot said that when the engine began to run rough, he looked at the fuel gauges which read zero. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24963](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24963-2012-09-10), registration cancelled 2012-09-10, S/N 15280474, 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: 15280474 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: California Wings Of San Diego - Registered owner: C. J. Logue - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MYF, SAN DIEGO, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; flight instructor, foreign, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 600 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Visibility: 20 statute miles - 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 19960324005039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960324005039A), Mar 24, 1996: Cessna 152, Carlsbad, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel en route. Failed to verify fuel on board prior departure. Collided with ground on night landing. 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.