Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 152 near Titusville, FL — 2009-01-25

Final reportERA09CA142
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Date
2009-01-25
Location
Titusville, FL, USA
Airport
TIX
Aircraft
CESSNA 152
Registration
N48570
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning.

NTSB narrative

Following a 4.2-hour cross-country flight, which included 11 touch-and-go landings, the pilot of the Cessna 152 was on final approach to land. About 400 feet above the ground the airplane's engine lost power and the airplane impacted trees short of the runway. The pilot reported that during the last circuit around the airport traffic pattern the fuel gauges showed that the right fuel tank was 1/4 full and the left fuel tank was less than 1/4 full. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the scene and noted no evidence of fuel spillage. After the airplane was recovered, approximately 3 to 4 total ounces of fuel were drained from all of the fuel drains. The airplane was serviced with 2 gallons of fuel and the engine was run at 1,200 rpm for 3 minutes with no anomalies noted.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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