Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pensacola, Florida 32504
Saturday, October 2, 1999 22:04 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and passenger did not check the fuel quantity prior to departure. While approaching the destination the engine began to fluctuate between 2,500 and 500 rpm. The pilot reported to controllers that he did have any fuel. The engine quit and the pilot attempted to make a forced landing in the parking lot of a shopping mall. The pilot then observed cars and made a forced landing on the roof of the mall. Post crash examination of the aircraft and crash site by FAA and Fire Department personnel showed the aircraft contained no usable fuel and there was no precrash or post crash fuel leakage from the aircraft. The carburetor was replaced and the engine was started and operated to full power with no evidence of failure or malfunction. Teardown examination of the accident carburetor showed no evidence of failure or malfunction. All fuel lines were unobstructed. The aircraft operator stated the aircraft had flown 4.5 flight hours since the last refueling and that the aircraft holds 24.5 gallons of usable fuel. They stated the aircraft consumes about 6 gallons of fuel per flight hour.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to ensure the aircraft contained adequate fuel to complete the flight resulting in engine failure due to fuel exhaustion and damage to the aircraft during the subsequent forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2204
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City PENSACOLA
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32504
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 10
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 2215 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID PNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1262
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 2 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2332
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:06AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N49508
NTSB Number MIA00LA001
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 15283465
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 23 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 66
Airframe Hours 7959
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PENSACOLA NAVY FLYING CLUB,INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 17082
Aircraft Owner City PENSACOLA
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32522
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 4R9
Departure City DAUPHIN ISLAND
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 2115
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PNS
Destination City
Destination State
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 --