- Date
- August 19, 1999, 17:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place
- Rockville, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N49014Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990819012939A
- Case key
- 47150
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot departed for an estimated 2.5 hour cross-country flight. During the flight, the pilot calculated the airplane would have over an extra hour of fuel onboard after the total trip, and he flew an additional .75 hours. While returning to the departure airport, the airplane experienced a partial power loss, which was followed by a total loss of engine power. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane's left wing struck a telephone pole, and the empennage contacted a fence. Examination of the wreckage revealed no fuel in the airplane's left fuel tank, and about 1/2 gallon remained in the right fuel tank. After fuel was supplied to the engine fuel lines, the engine started and performed satisfactorily. Review of the airplane's rental log, and Hobbs meter revealed the airplane had been operated for 3.4 hours. According to the Airplane Operating Manual, the airplane's total fuel capacity was 26 gallons, of which 1 1/2 gallons were unusable. Additionally, the airplane's endurance chart indicated about 3.4 hours of endurance at 75 percent power.
Factual narrative
On August 19, 1999, about 1720 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 152, N49014, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Rockville, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated at the Hanover County Municipal Airport (OFP), Ashland, Virginia, about 1355. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he departed OFP with full fuel for a flight to the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD), Weyers Cave, Virginia. The pilot calculated that approximately 15 gallons of fuel would be consumed for the estimated 2.5 hour flight. After he reached the Shenandoah Valley, the pilot calculated the airplane would have over an extra hour of fuel onboard after the total trip, and he flew an additional .75 hours. The pilot performed a touch and go at SHD and then departed the area for OFP.
While en route to OFP, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power, which was followed by a total loss of engine power.
During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane's left wing struck a telephone pole, and the empennage contacted a fence.
Examination of the wreckage was performed by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. During disassembly of the airplane, no fuel was found in the airplane's left fuel tank, and about 1/2 gallon remained in the right fuel tank. Neither fuel tank had been compromised during the accident. After fuel was supplied to the engine fuel lines, the engine started and performed satisfactorily.
Review of the airplane's rental log and Hobbs meter, revealed the airplane had been operated for 3.4 hours.
According to the Airplane Operating Manual, the airplane's total fuel capacity was 26 gallons, of which 1 1/2 gallons were unusable. Additionally, the airplane's endurance chart indicated about 3.4 hours of endurance at 75 percent power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N49014
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15283402
- Airframe hours
- 5,679
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Erik Michalski
- Registered owner
- Sundance Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 12, 1999 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- SHD · Weyers Cave, VA
- Destination
- OFP · Ashland, VA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 92 total · 88 in this make and model · 51 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OFP, 10 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.