# NTSB NYC08CA161: Cessna 152K, N67334, Okeechobee, FL, April 14, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 14, 2008, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Okeechobee, FL - Coordinates: 27.261667, -80.858329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2617&lon=-80.8583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67816 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67816/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA161 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel contamination, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that she departed on a cross-country flight with the intent of stopping at several airports along the way. She did a touch-and-go landing at one airport, and made a full stop landing at the next airport. The airplane was serviced with 6 gallons of fuel, and the pilot departed for her original airport. About 10 minutes after taking off, the engine lost power. The pilot followed the published emergency procedures, and attempted two unsuccessful restarts of the engine while searching for a forced landing area. She landed the airplane on a road, but it nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no obvious mechanical deficiencies with the engine. The inspector also saw that the gascolator contained a significant amount of water. In an interview with the inspector, the pilot stated that she drained the fuel tank sumps before her first flight, but did not do so before the accident flight. She also stated she did not drain the gascolator prior to the accident flight. ## Factual narrative According to the 145-hour pilot of the Cessna 152, she departed on a cross-country flight with the intent of stopping at several airports along the way. The pilot performed a touch-and-go landing at one airport and subsequently made a full stop landing at the next airport. The airplane was serviced with 6 gallons of fuel, and the pilot then restarted the airplane and departed for her original airport. About 10 minutes after taking off, the engine lost power. The pilot followed the published emergency procedures and attempted two unsuccessful restarts of the engine while searching for a forced landing area. The pilot landed the airplane on a road, but it nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position resulting in the substantial damage of the airplane. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no obvious mechanical deficiencies with the engine. The inspector also observed that the gascolator contained a significant amount of water. In an interview with the inspector, the pilot stated that she drained the fuel tank sumps before her first flight but did no do so before the accident flight. The pilot also stated she did not drain the gascolator prior to the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N67334](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67334-2011-05-27), registration cancelled 2011-05-27, S/N 15281762, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152K - 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: 15281762 - Airframe hours: 12507 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Orlando Flight Training, Inc. - Registered owner: N70FT, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 1, 2008 - Departed: OBE, Okeechobee, FL - Destination: ISM, Kissimmee, FL - Airport: OBE, Okeechobee County Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 145 total, 110 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: OBE, 5 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 20080414837329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080414837329A), Apr 14, 2008: Cessna 152, Okeechobee, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) A pilot and her passenger, during a routine cross country flight and her passenger left kissimmee, traveled to stuart, and then into Okeechobee where she… ## Other investigations on N67334 (2) 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. - [NTSB MIA94LA190](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA190), Aug 7, 1994: Cessna 152 (N67334), Clearwater, FL, minor damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S DECISION TO INTENTIONALLY EXIT THE AIRPLANE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A CLEARANCE FROM THE PROPELLER. THE IMPROPER AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT WAS A FACTOR. - [NTSB MIA91LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA045), Dec 16, 1990: Cessna 152 (N67334), Palmetto, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT DUE TO HIS FAILURE TO PURCHASE FUEL BEFORE DEPARTURE RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE… 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.