Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Greer, South Carolina 29651
Sunday, June 15, 1997 15:47 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated he had descended to 2,000 feet in preparation for landing when the engine started running rough, then lost power. The left fuel gage indicated empty and the right fuel gage indicated about 1/4 full. The pilot established the best glide speed, but the airplane collided with trees and terrain about 1 mile from the runway. Examination revealed the left and right fuel tanks were not ruptured and no fuel was present. Fuel was added to the right fuel tank, then the engine was started, and it developed power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's improper management of fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and subsequent collision with trees and terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/15/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1547
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City GREER
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29651
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 155 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID GSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 972
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 253
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 15 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2276J
NTSB Number MIA97LA184
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150G
Aircraft Series Identifier 150G
Aircraft Serial Number 150-65476
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45
Airframe Hours 6298
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JACOB J CUITJENS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1727 CHIEF ANDERSON
Aircraft Owner City TUSKEGEE
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36083
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AIR VENTURES INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 525 AEROTORN PARKWAY
Operator City LAGRANGE
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 30240
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NC14
Departure City REIDSVILLE
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1517
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code GSP
Destination City
Destination State SC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --