# NTSB MIA94LA211: Cessna 152, N6517M, Gainesville, FL, September 14, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 13, 1994, 21:06 local (Sep 14, 1994, 01:06 UTC) - Place: Gainesville, FL - Coordinates: 29.669176, -82.330078 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6692&lon=-82.3301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37603 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37603/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA211 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO CALCULATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CORRECTLY RESULTING IN 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, approach - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA FAA FLIGHT SERVICE THAT HE WAS EN ROUTE FROM LAKE CITY, FLORIDA TO GAINESVILLE AND THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. WHILE ON APPROACH TO GAINESVILLE THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN TREES. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY AN FAA INSPECTOR INDICATED THERE WAS NO USABLE FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT AND THAT THERE WAS NO REPORTED FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE OR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN OVER 6 HOURS SINCE THE LAST REFUELING. THE OPERATOR STATED THE AIRCRAFT HAS A 37 GALLON USABLE CAPACITY AND CONSUMES 6 GALLONS PER HOUR. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 1994, about 2106 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N6517M, registered to Comair Aviation Academy, collided with trees and then the ground while making a forced landing following loss of engine power at Gainesville, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot received serious injuries. The flight last originated at Lake City, Florida, on September 13, 1994, about 2034. The pilot stated he last refueled at Tifton, Georgia. He then flew to Macon, Georgia and stopped. He did not refuel at Macon. He departed Macon en route to Lake City, Florida. According to the FAA Flight Service Station at Macon he activated his flight plan at 1530. He canceled his flight plan in the area of Lake City at 1950, according to the FAA Flight Service Station at Gainesville, Florida. The pilot stated he could not get fuel at Lake City and departed for Gainesville, Florida, at 2034. At 2041, the pilot reported to Gainesville Flight Service that he was en route from Lake City to Gainesville and that he was low on fuel. At 2105, the pilot reported to Gainesville Flight Service that the engine had quit. The pilot stated he made a forced landing in trees. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector indicated the aircraft did not contain any usable fuel and that there was no reported fuel leakage from the aircraft after the accident. The aircraft operator stated the aircraft consumes 6 gallons per hour and the accident aircraft has about 37 usable gallons. The aircraft had been flown over 6 hours since the last refueling until the engine failed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6517M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6517M-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 15284762, 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: 15284762 - Airframe hours: 5897 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Comair Aviation Academy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1994, 10 hours before - Departed: 31J, LAKE CITY, FL - Airport: GNV, Gainesville Regional, runway 10, 7,503 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 80 in this make and model, 40 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 70° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GNV, 3 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 19940913026919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940913026919A), Sep 13, 1994: Cessna 152, Gainesville, FL, Substantial damage. Reported low fuel to afs then lost power. Settled into trees. No useable fuel on board. Failed refuel last stop. 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.