# NTSB MIA86LA226: Cessna 152, N914DF, San Juan, PR, August 3, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1986, 12:04 local (16:04 UTC)
- Place: San Juan, PR
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31685
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86LA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31685/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA226

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT HAD BEEN IN THE AIR FOR ABOUT 1 HR & WAS APRCHING THE ARPT. WHILE ON FINAL APRCH, THE ENG QUIT & THE PLT RADIOED 'MAYDAY,MAYDAY,FUEL EXHAUSTION' & DITCHED THE ACFT IN THE WATER. THE CFI PLT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE FUEL SUPPLY BY LOOKING AT THE FUEL GAGES BEFORE HE & HIS STUDENT TOOK OFF & THEY REGISTERED ABOUT 1/4 FULL. FUEL TANK CAPACITY IS ABOUT 26 GALS. 1/4 TANKS WOULD BE ABOUT 6 GALS. NORMAL FUEL CONSUMPTION IS ABOUT 6 GALS PER HR. THE CFI STATED THAT AFTER THE DITCHING, HE OBSERVED FUEL IN ONE TANK AFTER REMOVING A FUEL CAP. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE LOOKED INTO THE COCKPIT AFTER THE DITCHING & SAW 'EVERYTHING WAS STILL IN THE GREEN' HE LATER STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THE REASON FOR THE ENG FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N914DF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N914DF-2013-07-03), registration cancelled 2013-07-03, S/N 152-82141 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15282141
- Airframe hours: 1576
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Caribe Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 1986, 30 hours before
- Departed: SIG, SAN JUAN, PR
- Airport: SIG, Isla Grande, runway 9, 5,317 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,150 total, 960 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 460 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJU, 8 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 19860803045789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860803045789A), Aug 3, 1986: Cessna 152, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Destroyed. Ran out of fuel on over water approach to runway. Ditched 300 yards short. Aircraft not recovered.

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.

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