Whiteman Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pacoima, California 91331
Saturday, July 28, 2001 18:46 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane lost power while on approach to an airport. The private pilot said that at the time of the loss of engine power the left fuel gauge was still in the mid-range and the right was indicating empty. According to the airplane's tachometer the total flight time was 5.2 hours, while the Hobbs meter placed the total flight time as 5.7 hours. With the 10 gallons the pilot added prior to the return leg of the flight, the entire flight's total usable fuel quantity was 34.5 gallons. The pilot estimated the fuel consumption rate to be 6 or 7 gallons per hour. Using a 34.5-gallon fuel quantity and the 6- or 7-gallon-per-hour fuel consumption rate, the fuel endurance would have equated to 5 hours 45 minutes, or 4 hours 54 minutes, respectively. First responders to the accident site reported finding no evidence of fuel at the accident site.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power while on approach for landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/28/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1846
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Pacoima
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91331
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 341203N
Event Location Longitude 1191226W
Event Location Airport Whiteman
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WHP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1003
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1847 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID WHP
Elevation of weather observation facility 1003
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15295
NTSB Notification Source
NTSB Notification Date Jul 28 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1905
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-FSDO VAN NUYS, CA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N67418
NTSB Number LAX01LA263
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15281826
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 May 7 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25.1
Airframe Hours 7304.6
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Sun Quest Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12653 Osborne St., Ste 16
Aircraft Owner City Pacoima
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91331
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code IFP
Departure City Bullhead City
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WHP
Destination City Pacoima
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 9 2004 4:05PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 12
Runway Length 4120
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --