What happened
The aircraft sustained substantial damage during a forced landing sequence. During the event, the airplane collided with trees and subsequently nosed down. A post-accident examination revealed that only one gallon of fuel remained on board at the time of impact.
The flight duration was recorded at three hours and twenty minutes. The pilot stated that the fuel quantity gauges indicated a level of one-eighth full when the engine lost power. Under the specific conditions of this operation, the endurance of a Cessna 152 is just under three and a half hours when calculated with a forty-five-minute reserve.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft confirmed the fuel state at the time of the incident. The mechanical inspection supported the pilot's account regarding the fuel quantity indicators during the loss of power event.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was fuel exhaustion. The flight duration approached the maximum endurance limits of the Cessna 152 while operating with a minimal reserve margin. The discrepancy between the gauge indication and actual usable fuel contributed to the inability to maintain engine power.