Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bakersfield, California 93308
Sunday, May 21, 1989 7:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, WHILE ON APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED THAT APPROXIMATELY ONE AND A HALF GALLONS REMAINED. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT. DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ESTIMATED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE HALF FULL ON DEPARTURE AND THAT HE ENCOUNTERED STRONG WINDS ENROUTE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF A LOW FUEL STATE BUT ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY PLAN FOR THE FLIGHT IN THAT HE DID NOT CALCULATE THE FUEL CONSUMPTION ACCURATELY, FAILED TO PROVIDE FOR ADEQUATE FUEL RESERVES, AND ALSO FAILED TO LAND AT AIRPORTS SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION EVEN THOUGH HE WAS AWARE OF HIS LOW FUEL STATE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 750
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BAKERSFIELD
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93308
Event Date Year 1989
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 0
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) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 364
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 21 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38743
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N18515
NTSB Number LAX89LA200
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 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier 150L
Aircraft Serial Number 15073906
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRIEVES, BRUCE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 106 SO. TOPANGA CANYON
Aircraft Owner City TOPANGA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90290
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 IYK
Departure City INYOKERN
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BFL
Destination City BAKERSFIELD
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --