MIA98LA077

During a previous flight, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion, and the pilot made a forced landing in a field. The aircraft was not damaged. After purchasing fuel at the local airport and placing the fuel in the aircraft, the pilot attempted a takeoff on a road. The left wing of the aircraft struck a sign during the takeoff roll, and the aircraft veered to the left. The left wing then struck a telephone pole, and the aircraft came to rest. A postcrash fire consumed the aircraft.

On February 10, 1998, about 1405 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N25952, registered to Air Chesterfield, Inc., collided with a sign and a telephone pole while attempting to take off from a road near Georgetown, South Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personnel flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the private-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that en route to Charleston, South Carolina, from Richmond, Virginia, with one passenger, the engine sputtered and lost power, in the area of Georgetown. He made a successful landing in a field and let the aircraft roll out onto a dirt road at the end of the field. He caught a ride to the Georgetown Airport and bought fuel. After adding the fuel to the aircraft, he started the engine and performed an engine runup. Everything checked out fine. The passenger was to catch a ride to the Georgetown Airport, about 20 miles away, and he taxied the aircraft to a paved road and attempted to take off to fly there and pick up the passenger. During the takeoff roll, the left wing struck a sign, causing the aircraft to veer to the left. The aircraft then struck a utility pole and came to rest. A postcrash fire erupted destroying the aircraft. The pilot stated to an FAA inspector after the accident, "he couldn't believe he did something so stupid like this, on top of running out of fuel."