# NTSB MKC90LA029: Cessna 152, N47446, Cape Girardeau, MO, November 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 10, 1989, 14:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Cape Girardeau, MO
- Coordinates: 37.339569, -89.570571 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3396&lon=-89.5706&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC90LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34911/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC90LA029

## Probable cause

POOR PLANNING BY THE PILOT IN NOT REFUELING ENROUTE WHICH RESULTED IN 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, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
  - object - fence
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE QUIT ABOUT 4 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH TREES, A FENCE, THEN A NOSE OVER. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE LOSS OF POWER WAS A RESULT OF FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N47446](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47446-2011-09-28), registration cancelled 2011-09-28, S/N 15283227, built 1979 (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: 15283227
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: State Aerial Farm Stats, Inc.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: EVV, EVANSVILLE, IN
- Destination: CGI, CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 20,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 55 °F
- Observed at: CGI, 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 19891110044949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891110044949A), Nov 10, 1989: Cessna 152, Cape Girardeau, MO, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel 4 miles short of destination on a farm observation flight. Hit trees,a fence,and nosed over.

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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