Overview
A personal flight from Las Vegas to Whiteman Airport ended with an emergency landing on a city street after the engine lost all power. The pilot and one passenger were on board.
Flight Details
The airplane departed Las Vegas (LAS) for Whiteman Airport (WHP). Approximately 2.8 hours into the flight, the engine experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot executed an emergency landing on a city street near the destination airport.
Fuel Management
Before departure from Las Vegas, the pilot instructed that the airplane's fuel tanks be only partially filled. A line service representative reported that the tanks were filled to about three-quarters capacity. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) estimated that, after accounting for ground operations at Las Vegas, the airplane likely contained 17 gallons of usable fuel at takeoff. Performance data from Cessna indicated a fuel burn rate of approximately 6.1 gallons per hour at 75% engine power, giving a projected endurance of 2.8 hours.
Conclusion
The airplane's fuel endurance was calculated to be 2.8 hours, matching the flight duration before engine failure.