Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Norfolk, Virginia 23501
Saturday, May 15, 1993 17:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THIS WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S LAST LONG SOLO CROSS COUNTRY TOWARDS ATTAINING HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD COMPLETED THE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS INSTRUCTOR APPROVED THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE INSTRUCTOR ALSO ADVISED THE STUDENT THAT HE SHOULD, 'TOP OFF THE TANKS.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DUE TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO FILL THE TANKS HE ADDED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL, WHICH HE CONSIDERED WAS ADEQUATE FOR HIS RETURN FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT ON HIS RETURN FLIGHT, HE MADE SOME ADDITIONAL LANDINGS EN ROUTE THAT WERE NOT CALCULATED PREVIOUSLY. DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT ABOUT 2500 FEET AND 15 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A MARSHY FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A TOTAL OF ABOUT 1 PINT OF FUEL IN BOTH TANKS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD ADDED MORE FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1705
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NORFOLK
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23501
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 5
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1712 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID ORF
Elevation of weather observation facility 1
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 5000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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) 711
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 15 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 50396
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:18PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N68910
NTSB Number BFO93LA087
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 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15282397
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 5049
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICK AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 205-F LEAR DRIVE/WMSBRG ARPT
Aircraft Owner City NEWPORT NEWS
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23602
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RICK AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address WILLIAMSBURG INTL AIRPORT
Operator City NEWPORT NEWS
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 23602
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 ISO
Departure City KINSTON
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PHF
Destination City NEWPORT NEWS
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight 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 --