On December 26, 1991, a Cessna 152 (registration N106CF) operated by Flying "c" Leasing, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Alpha, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and total loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A solo instructional flight ended in a nose-over accident after the aircraft ran out of fuel during an emergency landing attempt in a farm field.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a solo, cross-country instructional flight when the engine failed. In response to the loss of power, the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing in a nearby farm field. The impact caused the aircraft to overturn.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. The fuel tanks were found to be empty of usable fuel. Records indicated the aircraft had flown approximately 4.1 hours since its last refueling.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot failed to ensure adequate fuel supply for the flight, leading to engine failure and the subsequent crash landing.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and total loss of engine power.