What happened
The incident involved a Cessna 152 operated by a student pilot. During flight operations, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power. Unable to maintain altitude or reach an appropriate airfield, the pilot initiated a forced landing procedure. During this maneuver, the aircraft collided with a utility pole, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Following the accident, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel examined the wreckage and the aircraft's systems. A critical finding was that both fuel tanks were completely empty. To verify the mechanical integrity of the engine independent of the fuel supply, fuel was manually added to the left tank during the inspection. Upon refueling, the engine started and ran normally, indicating no pre-existing mechanical failure.
Findings
The examination confirmed that the power loss was caused by fuel exhaustion. The aircraft registration involved in this incident is N12345. The pilot reported being uninjured despite the substantial damage to the aircraft. The primary factor leading to the accident was the depletion of usable fuel during flight.