Cessna 152 N69180

Summary

On 18 May 1996 at about 17:42 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N69180, operated by Burbank Flying Club, was involved in an accident near Sylmar, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 May 1996 at 17:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Sylmar, California, United States

Coordinates

34.3199, -118.3797

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N69180

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Burbank Flying Club

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Burbank → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA197

1 person had minor injuries.

fuel exhaustion due to the inexperienced student pilot's inadequately performed preflight inspection and her failure to refuel prior to takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the student pilot, before commencement of her first solo cross-country flight, she had performed a preflight inspection during which time she believed that at least 18 gallons of fuel were onboard. After takeoff, the pilot flew to the Mojave Airport where she performed two takeoffs and landings. Thereafter, the pilot climbed to 6,500 feet mean sea level and proceeded toward Burbank. Approximately 5 minutes before all engine power was lost, the fuel gauges indicated about 1/4 full. The pilot made a forced landing and collided with power lines and rough terrain. At the time, the student's total pilot-in-command flying experience was 5.3 hours. The operator reported that records indicated during the 3 days which preceded the accident flight, the airplane had been flown for 2.3 tachometer hours and thereafter, had not been refueled. The accident flight lasted about 1.5 tachometer hours. Cessna performance data indicated that with a lean mixture at 75 percent engine power, the fuel consumption rate would be about 6.1 gallons per hour. At this rate, fuel exhaustion could occur after about 4.0 hours of engine operation or less time if the mixture was not leaned, or if the 24.5 gallon usable capacity tanks were less than full.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.