Cessna 152 N24258

Summary

On 11 June 1989 at about 18:20 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N24258, operated by Cothron Aviation Inc., was involved in an accident near Kaufman, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 June 1989 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Kaufman, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.5795, -96.2999

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N24258

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Cothron Aviation Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Arlington → Tyler

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW89LA113

Nobody was injured.

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

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.