Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kaufman, Texas 75142
Sunday, June 11, 1989 13:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS SENT ON A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH AN AIRPLANE THAT WAS LESS THAN FULL. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN 1.5 HOURS SINCE IT HAD BEEN TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL. HE FLEW THE AIRPLANE FOR ONE HOUR AND FIFTY MINUTES BEFORE THE ENGINE STOPPED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ON THE ROAD, THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE SIDE, HIT A DITCH AND THEN A UTILITY POLE. LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN 2.5 HOURS BEFORE THE STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED IT FOR HIS FLIGHT. HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT AIRBORNE LONGER THAN NORMAL FOR THE AMOUNT OF FUEL HE STARTED WITH. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO LOCATE HIS AIRPORT DUE TO FLOODED CONDITIONS AND A FAULTY RADIO, AND THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

STUDENT PILOT INADVERTENTLY BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED AND EXHAUSTING THE FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/11/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City KAUFMAN
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75142
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 581
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 11 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1454
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40020
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:46PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N24258
NTSB Number FTW89LA113
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
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 15280178
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 May 12 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 4640
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COTHRON AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5104 SOUTH COLLINS
Aircraft Owner City ARLINGTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76108
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name COTHRON AVIATION INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5104 S. COLLINS
Operator City ARLINGTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76018
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 F54
Departure City ARLINGTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TYR
Destination City TYLER
Destination State TX
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 --