NYC94LA096

The pilot was cruising to his destination airport, when the engine quit. He attempted to restart the engine, but he was unable to regain power. He initiated a forced landing to a field, but the airplane collided with a tree during the landing. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and observed that the fuel tanks were empty. The airplane was removed from the field, and the FAA conducted a successful engine start and run-up. The FAA report stated: 'pilot miscalculated flight time flown during a cross country flight.'

On Saturday, May 29, 1994, at 2015 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68186, registered to Lanes Valley Forge Aviation, Inc., and piloted by Edward Bogdanow, sustained substantial damage, during a forced landing in Spring City, Pennsylvania. The pilot was not injured, and the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot was completing a flight from Cumberland, Maryland, destined for the Perkiomen Valley Airport, Collegeville, Pennsylvania. He stated that he was in cruise flight, when the engine suddenly quit. There had been no problems prior to this event. He attempted to restart the engine, while he was preparing for a forced landing. He located a field and attempted to land in it, but according to his statement, "I was too high on final for...the field," and the airplane collided with trees. Prior to the impact, the engine restarted momentarily and then quit again.

Jesse Kern, Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, examined the wreckage and determined that the fuel tanks were not ruptured and were empty. Inspector Thomas J. Kerr stated on FAA Form 8020-16, "Fuel exhaustion - Pilot miscalculated flight time flown during a cross country flight."

FAA Airworthiness Inspector, Joseph Radosky, conducted an engine start and run-up. He stated, "Engine running rough because of bent propeller and the engine run [was] normal."