# NTSB LAX97LA240: Cessna 152, N4594B, Gila Bend, AZ, July 12, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 1997, 18:30 local (Jul 12, 1997, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Gila Bend, AZ - Coordinates: 32.989818, -112.899925 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9898&lon=-112.8999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29835/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA240 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to verify the fuel quantity prior to departure, and his failure to perform sufficient en route fuel consumption calculations during the cross-country flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The student pilot took off for his third cross-country solo flight. He stated that he took his fight instructor's word that there would be enough fuel for the entire flight. He did not perform any fuel consumption calculations en route, nor did he visually check the fuel quantity levels after he reached his intermediate destination. The airplane ran out of fuel prior to reaching his second destination. During an emergency landing, the airplane hit trees and was damaged. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 1997, at 1830 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N4594B, collided with a tree following a complete loss of power during a descent for landing at Gila Bend, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a cross-country solo instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Chandler, Arizona, at 1600 and made an en route stop in Yuma. According to an Aviation Safety Technician at the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office, the pilot said he did "not check the fuel or add fuel" while he was in Yuma, Arizona. He arrived in Yuma at 1730 and flew back to Gila Bend to practice touch-and-go landings. During the descent the engine quit. The student pilot made several attempts at a airborne restart of the engine with no success. He attempted to land on a highway and subsequently hit a tree, where the airplane nosed over. According to the pilot's written statement, he said that his instructor told him he had only enough fuel for the cross-country flight to Yuma, Gila Bend, and returning to Chandler. The student pilot said he visually checked the fuel prior to takeoff, and that the fuel was at the top of the wing. After takeoff, he stated that the fuel gauges were reading empty. The certified flight instructor said he reviewed the student pilot's cross-country flight plan. He stated that the total distance for the flight was 294 nautical miles. He estimated that the total time estimated for the complete round trip was 3 hours 20 minutes. In his written statement, the student pilot said his flight instructor "reassured me that I had enough fuel, and I took his word on it." The student pilot did not perform a preflight inspection of the aircraft prior to taking off from Yuma. The student pilot had successfully completed two solo cross-country flights prior to this flight, and had passed a company pre-solo written test, which discussed the fuel burn requirements of the Cessna 152. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4594B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4594B-2012-09-18), registration cancelled 2012-09-18, S/N 15283547, built 1979 (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: 15283547 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard Glazar - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: YUM, YUMA, AZ - Destination: E63 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: E63, Gila Bend, runway 4, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GYR ## 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 19970711018169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970711018169A), Jul 11, 1997: Cessna 152, Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing touch and go landings when the aircraft landed short and flipped over. (From .4) the student pilot took off for his third cross-country… ## Other investigations on N4594B (2) 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 LAX94LA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA216), May 8, 1994: Cessna 152 (N4594B), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft. - [NTSB LAX91LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA002), Oct 4, 1990: Cessna 152 (N4594B), Kearny, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT EXECUTING A LEFT TURN AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT TO CLEAR A CORN FIELD LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. 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.