# NTSB NYC99LA095: Cessna 152, N48005, Wall, NJ, April 21, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 21, 1999, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Wall, NJ
- Location: 40.1585° N, 74.1167° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from MONMOUTH EXEC (BLM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1585&lon=-74.1167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 10, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 46195
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46195/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA095

## Probable cause

The pilot in command's improper preflight preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that during the preflight he visually checked the fuel tanks, and confirmed that reading with the cockpit gauges.  The flight departed, and after about 30 minutes of flight, the engine lost power.  The CFI turned the airplane towards an open grass field, and executed a forced landing.  Examination of the wreckage revealed no signs of fuel stains on the airframe or engine.  Maintenance personnel removed a jar containing 4 ounces of clear liquid that had a blue tint similar to aviation low lead fuel, from the fuel strainer. The sample did not reveal any signs of water.  No fuel was observed in the wing tanks when the wings were removed from the airframe.  A review of fuel records indicated that the airplane had been fueled on April 19, 1999, with 12.4 gallons of 100 low lead aviation gasoline, filling the 26-gallon fuel tanks to capacity.  A review of invoices provided by the operator of the airplane indicated that the airplane had been flown a total of 4 times prior to the accident flight.  The total Hobbs meter flight time for the flights was 5.5 hours.

## Factual narrative

On April 21, 1999, about 1400 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 152, N48005, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Wall, New Jersey.  The certified flight instructor (CFI) and passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The CFI stated that the flight was intended to introduce the passenger (prospective student) to flight training.  During the preflight of the airplane, he visually checked the fuel tanks, and confirmed that reading with the cockpit gauges.  The flight departed Allaire Airport, Farmingdale, New Jersey, about 1300.  After about 30 minutes of flight, the engine began to run rough.  The CFI applied carburetor heat for about 90 seconds, and the engine appeared to run normal again.  Approximately 10 minutes later, the engine began to run rough again, and the CFI decided to return to the airport.  The fuel gauges were visually checked again by the CFI, and indicated "adequate fuel" in both tanks.

About 1 mile from the runway, the engine quit running, and the airplane began to descend.  The CFI turned the airplane towards an open grass field, and executed a forced landing.  The airplane hit trees located 50 feet prior to the grass field, continued to descend, and impacted the ground.  The airplane came to rest on its left side, nose high, wedged between budding trees.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed no signs of fuel stains on the airframe or engine.  Maintenance personnel removed a jar containing 4 ounces of clear liquid that had a blue tint similar to aviation low lead fuel, from the fuel strainer.  The sample did not reveal any signs of water.  No fuel was observed in the wing tanks when the wings were removed from the airframe.

A review of fuel records indicated that the airplane had been fueled on April 19, 1999, with 12.4 gallons of 100 low lead aviation gasoline, filling the 26-gallon fuel tanks to capacity.

A review of invoices provided by the operator of the airplane indicated that the airplane had been flown a total of 4 times prior to the accident flight.  The total Hobbs meter flight time for the flights was 5.5 hours.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48005](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48005-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N 15283266 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15283266
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Eagles View Aviation, Inc., doing business as Horizon Air
- Registered owner: Calvin Burke
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BLM, FARMINGDALE, NJ
- Airport: BLM, Allaire Airport, runway 32, 7,300 × 80 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; flight instructor, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLM, 2 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 19990421003809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990421003809A), Apr 21, 1999: Cessna 152, Monmouth County, NJ, Destroyed. Acft lost power, and the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing in a field, but the acft struck trees just off of exit 98 of the garden state parkway,…

## Other investigations on N48005 (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 ATL85LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85LA240), Aug 7, 1985: Cessna 152 (N48005), Lexington, NC, substantial damage
- [NTSB ATL81FKW25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FKW25), Aug 25, 1981: Cessna 152 (N48005), Columbia, TN, substantial damage

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.
