Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jensen Beach, Florida 34957
Friday, March 1, 1991 2:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF & THE ACFT WAS FLOWN FOR .5 HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT PLT RENTED THE ACFT. NO FURTHER SERVICING WAS PERFORMED. THE ACCIDENT FLT DEPARTED WITH LESS-THAN-FULL TANKS & WHILE RETURNING TO LAND FOLLOWING AN APRX 3-HR FLT, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT STARTED IT MOMENTARILY BUT IT QUIT AGAIN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL FOLLOWING THE FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A PALM TREE. THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED WHICH REVEALED THAT THEY CONTAINED 1.5 GALS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE UNUSABLE FUEL QUANTITY FOR BOTH FUEL TANKS IS 1.5 GALS. REVIEW OF ACFT RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE ACFT WAS OPERATED FOR 3.8 HRS SINCE LAST REFUELING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE UNRELIABLE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/1/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 200
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City JENSEN BEACH
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34957
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 155 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 167
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 223
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43306
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:33AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5282H
NTSB Number MIA91LA090
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 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15284080
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 Feb 25 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 6750
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name J.R. LEASING, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 465 RIVERSIDE DR.
Aircraft Owner City STUART
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34994
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TREASURE COAST FLIGHT ACADEMY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2501 SE AVIATION WAY
Operator City STUART
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 34996
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 FPR
Departure City FORT PIERCE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 155
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SUA
Destination City STUART
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --