# NTSB SEA06CA099: Cessna 152, N69183, Klamath Falls, OR, May 17, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2006, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Klamath Falls, OR - Coordinates: 42.160278, -121.716667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1603&lon=-121.7167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 63703 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63703/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA099 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. Soft terrain was a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis In a telephone conversation and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that during the return leg to Ashland, he become disoriented and requested vectors to the nearest airport because of concerns about the aircraft's total time aloft and "...my fuel situation." Seattle Center advised the pilot that Chiloquin, Oregon, was approximately 10 miles north-northwest of his position, however it was not known if fuel was available at the airport and the ATC Specialist asked the pilot if Klamath Falls, approximately 35 miles from his location, would be an option. The pilot believed he had sufficient fuel to complete the flight to Klamath, however approximately 2 miles from reaching the airport the airplane's engine began to surge and eventually lost power. The pilot stated that he was unable to reach the runway and elected to land in an open field. As the airplane touched down in the field, it encountered soft muddy terrain and "flipped nose over." The pilot reported that he believed he had approximately 15 minutes of fuel remaining when the airplane lost engine power, however he later stated the airplane "just ran out of fuel." The airplane was "topped" prior to departing Ashland. The Hobbs meter indicated that the airplane had flown approximately 3.6 hours since it had been fueled. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 2006, at about 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N69183, sustained substantial damage during an off airport forced landing subsequent to a loss of engine power. The airplane touched down in a field near the Klamath Falls Airport, Klamath Falls, Oregon, and nosed over. The airplane is registered to Skinner Leasing, LLC and was being operated by the private pilot as a cross-country flight in accordance with the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan had been activated. The flight originated from Plush, Oregon, approximately 90 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot's planned destination was Ashland, Oregon. The pilot had flown from Ashland to Plush earlier that day and was returning to Ashland when the accident occurred. In a telephone conversation and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that during the return leg to Ashland, he become disoriented and requested vectors to the nearest airport because of concerns about the aircraft's total time aloft and "...my fuel situation." Seattle Center advised the pilot that Chiloquin, Oregon, was approximately 10 miles north-northwest of his position, however it was not known if fuel was available at the airport and the ATC Specialist asked the pilot if Klamath Falls, approximately 35 miles from his location, would be an option. The pilot believed he had sufficient fuel to complete the flight to Klamath, however approximately 2 miles from reaching the airport the airplane's engine began to surge and eventually quit. The pilot stated he was unable to reach the runway and elected to land in an open field. As the airplane touched down in the field, it encountered soft muddy terrain and "flipped nose over." The pilot reported that he believed he had approximately 15 minutes of fuel remaining when the airplane lost engine power, however he later stated the airplane "just ran out of fuel." The airplane was "topped" prior to departing Ashland. The Hobbs meter indicated that the airplane had flown approximately 3.6 hours since it had been fueled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69183](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69183-2007-04-17), registration cancelled 2007-04-17, S/N 15282533, built 1978 (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: 15282533 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Skinner Aviation, Inc - Registered owner: Skinner Leasing, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Plush, OR - Destination: S03, Ashland, OR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: LMT, Klamath Falls International, runway 14 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review July 1, 2005; flight hours: 105 total, 3 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20060517008199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060517008199A), May 17, 2006: Cessna 152, Klamath Falls, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed plush, OR at 1230 PDT. The area had high density altitude preventing the aircraft from climbing to planned cruise altitude. This forced… 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.