Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rockville, Virginia 23146
Thursday, August 19, 1999 17:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed for an estimated 2.5 hour cross-country flight. During the flight, the pilot calculated the airplane would have over an extra hour of fuel onboard after the total trip, and he flew an additional .75 hours. While returning to the departure airport, the airplane experienced a partial power loss, which was followed by a total loss of engine power. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane's left wing struck a telephone pole, and the empennage contacted a fence. Examination of the wreckage revealed no fuel in the airplane's left fuel tank, and about 1/2 gallon remained in the right fuel tank. After fuel was supplied to the engine fuel lines, the engine started and performed satisfactorily. Review of the airplane's rental log, and Hobbs meter revealed the airplane had been operated for 3.4 hours. According to the Airplane Operating Manual, the airplane's total fuel capacity was 26 gallons, of which 1 1/2 gallons were unusable. Additionally, the airplane's endurance chart indicated about 3.4 hours of endurance at 75 percent power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/1999
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1720
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ROCKVILLE
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23146
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1754 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 95
Weather Observation Facility ID OFP
Elevation of weather observation facility 205
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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) 1325
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 20 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N49014
NTSB Number NYC99LA207
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 15283402
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 12 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 5679
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SUNDANCE AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11152 AIR PARK ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ASHLAND
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23005
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ERIK MICHALSKI
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 706 NORTH BELMONT AVENUE APT.1
Operator City RICHMOND
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 23221
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 SHD
Departure City WEYERS CAVE
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1620
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OFP
Destination City ASHLAND
Destination State VA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
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 --