# NTSB MIA00LA006: Cessna 152, N6504L, Bayou La Batre, AL, October 17, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 17, 1999, 17:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Bayou La Batre, AL - Coordinates: 30.399534, -88.250137 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3995&lon=-88.2501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47585 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA006 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47585/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA006 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning and the his improper en route fuel consumption calculations resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, and the operator's fueling records, the pilot pumped 4.5 gallons of fuel into the rental airplane after it had flown 2.5 hours since refuel to full tanks. He then flew it for an additional 2.7 hours, including 3 takeoffs and 2 landings, before the engine lost power. During the forced landing the airplane struck a pecan tree. Examination revealed no fuel was found in the fuel tanks or carburetor, and very little had leaked out of the gascolator, postcrash. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 1999, about 1740 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6504L, registered to Sky King Aviation, Inc., operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed into a pecan grove following a loss of engine power after takeoff in the vicinity of Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight departed Bayou La Batre, Alabama, about 5 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot, just after takeoff, his engine sputtered and acted as if it were running out of fuel. He set himself up for a forced landing in a field, but a house emerged into his vision at the last moment, and he tried to adjust his landing pattern in the opposite direction. His airspeed dissipated while trying to stretch his glide and he caught his left wing on a pecan tree. The pilot stated that prior to his origination from Foley, Alabama, earlier that day, his preflight walk-around inspection revealed the left fuel tank indicated 1/4 full, although a visual inspection of the fuel quantity showed just under full. To be safe, he topped off the left tank with 4 1/2 gallons. He stated the right tank was full. He further stated that he performed one touch and go landing at Foley before he headed westbound toward Bayou La Batre. According to the fixed-base operator, (FBO) N6504L had just returned from a rental flight, and its renter pilot was settling up his charges when the accident pilot arrived to rent the same airplane. Instead of waiting for FBO personnel to refuel the airplane, the accident pilot volunteered to refuel it himself. FBO fueling records confirm that the pilot pumped 4.5 gallons into N6504L; however, those same records revealed that N6504L had flown a .7 hour trip, a 1.0 hour trip, and a .8 hour trip for a total of 2.5 hours since last refueling. According to the FBO, N6504L had full tanks, (26 gallons, 24.5 gallons usable) at the beginning of the rental day. The three previous flights involved only local, low altitude, predominately touch and go landings type operations, and they calculate minimum fuel flow for that type flying to be about 6 gallons per hour. The FBO is certain that no refueling took place, elsewhere. Subsequent examination of the airplane by FAA personnel revealed that after initial impact with the tree, the airplane impacted the earth nose first and came to rest on its three landing gear. The wings, fuselage, and empennage received substantial damage. The wing fuel tanks had not been compromised by the crash, and were empty. There was an 18-inch diameter spot in the grass under the gascolator where some fuel had leaked. The propeller blades were not damaged. The wreckage was taken to a local FBO where a teardown examination of the fuel system was performed. The carburetor bowl contained no fuel, and the carburetor filter screen was clean. The fuel gascolator was clean and contained no fuel. Using Hobbs meter times, fuel consumption figures, (confirmed by reference to Avco Lycoming Operator's Manual for the O-235 series engine, fuel flow vs percent rated power chart), and fueling gallonage figures provided by the FBO, the accident trip lasted 2.7 hours, including 3 takeoffs and 2 landings, and had about 14 gallons of fuel aboard at the origination of the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6504L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6504L-2013-09-24), registration cancelled 2013-09-24, S/N 15284424, built 1980 (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: 15284424 - Airframe hours: 8522 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky King Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 27, 1999, 145 hours before - Departed: 5R7, AL - Destination: 5R4, FOLEY, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 172 total, 11 in this make and model, 126 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MOB, 16 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 19991017035519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991017035519A), Oct 17, 1999: Cessna 152, Bayou La Batre, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 17, 1999 Cessna CE-152 N6504L piloted by Mr. Garcia crashed in a field near theodore, AL and sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated… 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.