On August 31, 1996, a Cessna 305A (registration N5277G) operated by Air Ads, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near San Diego, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper preflight planning, and an inadequate fuel supply. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported a total loss of engine power while towing a banner, leading to a forced landing on rough hillside terrain. Postaccident examination found no fuel in the tanks.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported experiencing a total loss of engine power while towing a banner. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing on the rough terrain of a hillside. No fuel was found in the airplane's tanks during the postaccident examination.
Operational Details
At the time of the power loss, the airplane had been operated for approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes since its last refueling. The airplane held about 37.8 gallons of usable fuel, and its fuel burn-off rate was approximately 10.5 gallons per hour.
Postaccident Findings
The postaccident examination revealed no fuel remaining in the airplane's tanks.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…