Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mesquite, Nevada 89024
Sunday, April 19, 1992 12:10 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING THE SECOND LEG OF A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY LOSE POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT SINCE THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN WAS UNSUITABLE FOR AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING. BEFORE REACHING THE PRIVATELY OWNED AIRPORT, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. DURING THE ENSUING EMERGENCY LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A DIRT EMBANKMENT. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED ABOUT THREE AND A HALF GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PILOT HAD MADE AN UNPLANNED LANDING AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT BEFORE CONTINUING TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE TOTAL USEABLE FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT AND TOLD FAA INSPECTORS THAT THE TOTAL PLANNED DISTANCE WAS 220 MILES; THE ACTUAL DISTANCE WAS 264 MILES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN, AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/19/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1210
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MESQUITE
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89024
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 4
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2432
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 19 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1335
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6582G
NTSB Number LAX92LA180
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 150722082
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 8 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 5978
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERTI, MICHAEL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5035 E. ROADRUNNER DR.
Aircraft Owner City MESA
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85205
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERTI, MICHAEL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 5035 E. ROADRUNNER DR.
Operator City MESA
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85205
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PRC
Departure City PRESCOTT
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
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 --