MIA87LA077

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Key West, FL · January 20, 1987

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: January 20, 1987, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
Place: Key West, FL
Injuries: 2 minor
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Enroute
Aircraft: N757DWCessna 152
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report March 30, 1988
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19870120000819A
Case key: 31851

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalCruise - normal

Fuel system - exhaustionCause

Planning/decision - poorPilot in commandCause

Fuel consumption calculations - not performedPilot in commandCause

Flight manuals - not followedPilot in command

Refueling - not performedPilot in commandCause

DitchingDescent - emergency

Analysis

The plt failed to calculate fuel consumption for the intended route of flt prior to takeoff. Aprx 55 minutes into the flt the eng quit due to fuel exhaustion. The acft was then ditched in the gulf of Mexico.

Aircraft

Registration: N757DW
Reported as: Cessna 152
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 15279666
Airframe hours: 3,706
Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: South Seminole Flying Club,Inc
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
Last inspection: Annual · August 28, 1986
Departed: APF · Naples, FL
Destination: EYW · Key West, FL
Flight plan: VFR

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 58
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 270 total · 100 in this make and model · 251 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 170° at 8 knots
Visibility: 8 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observed at: EYW, 11 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.

Accident 19870120000819ACessna 152 · Key West, FLThe engine failed from fuel exhaustion. The aircraft was ditched in the ocean. Pilot failed to plan fuel usage.Jan 20, 1987 · N757DW · Substantial damage