# NTSB LAX96LA322: Cessna 305A, N5277G, San Diego, CA, August 31, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1996, 14:28 local (21:28 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.789886, -116.960983 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7899&lon=-116.9610&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 5, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29549 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA322 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29549/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA322 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper preflight planning, and an inadequate fuel supply. ## 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) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The pilot reported that while towing a banner he experienced a total loss of engine power. At the time, he had operated the airplane for about 3:08 hours since being refueled. The pilot made a forced landing on a hillside's rough terrain. The airplane held about 37.8 gallons of usable fuel, and its burn off rate was approximately 10.5 gallons per hour. No fuel was found in the airplane's tanks during the postaccident examination. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1996, at 1428 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 305A, N5277G, experienced a total loss of engine power while towing a banner about 3 miles northwest San Diego, California. The pilot made a forced landing on a hillside's rough terrain. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the airline transport pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from San Diego at 1108. According to the pilot, he had operated the airplane's 225 HP engine for about 3:08 hours since beginning the first of two flights. The first flight lasted about 1 hour. No fuel was added after the first flight. The pilot reported anticipating that the engine would burn approximately 10 or 10.5 gallons per hour, and the fuel tanks held about 37.8 gallons of usable fuel. When the engine first sputtered, the left (main) fuel tank indicator was still indicating that the fuel level was in the takeoff range. The pilot further stated that he switched to the right (auxiliary) tank, the engine instantly regained full power, and then after a few seconds all power was again lost. Other than the erroneous indication presented by the fuel gauge, the pilot did not report experiencing any malfunction in the airplane. The pilot stated that, in general, the airplane's fuel gauges were neither accurate nor reliable. The owner of Southern Cal Aircraft, a repair station located in El Cajon, California, verbally reported that during the postaccident examination of the airplane no evidence was found of any rupture to the airplane's fuel tanks, and no fuel was found in them. The fuel tank caps were found secured to the airplane. No fuel was found in the main fuel line to the carburetor. The carburetor's finger screen was removed, and it was found clean. The airplane's owner verbally reported that his airplane generally burned fuel at a rate of between 10 and 10.5 gallons per hour. The owner stated that in his opinion, no mechanical malfunctions occurred during the accident flight. The pilot reported that his total flying experience in the accident airplane was about 1,212 hours. His total piloting time was about 19,157 hours. Most of his flight time was accrued flying turbojets. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5277G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5277G), registered now, S/N 22134, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 305A - Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22134 - Airframe hours: 6460 - Engines: Continental O-470-A 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Air Ads, Inc. - Registered owner: Joe C. Hester - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 1996, 163 hours before - Departed: SEE, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 19,157 total, 1,212 in this make and model, 16,290 as pilot in command, 154 in the last 90 days, 56 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960831025609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960831025609A), Aug 31, 1996: Cessna 305A, San Diego, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power on banner tow. Landed rough hillside. Fuel tanks empty. Fuel burn higher during banner tow. 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.