Casualties unknown

1997-06-12: Cessna 152 (N6182U) — John C. Harder — Bridgeport, TX

Bridgeport, TX, US

On June 12, 1997, a Cessna 152 (registration N6182U) operated by John C. Harder was involved in an aviation accident near Bridgeport, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as result of the pilot's failure to refuel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. 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.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on a cross-country flight from Tyler to Bridgeport reported losing power and attempted a forced landing. The airplane struck a rock and nosed over. About 2 gallons of usable fuel remained.

Incident Overview

A student pilot flying a 1981 model Cessna 152 experienced an engine power loss while en route from Tyler to Bridgeport, Texas, according to a report from the Fort Worth Flight Service Station (FSS). The pilot had earlier contacted the FSS to report being lost. The last radio contact with the FSS occurred approximately 4 hours and 1 minute after departure from Tyler.

Forced Landing Sequence

The pilot, who had accumulated about 40 hours of flight time, stated that the engine lost power and he attempted to land in an open pasture. During the landing roll, the nose wheel impacted a rock, causing the airplane to nosed over. The aircraft came to rest in an inverted position.

Aircraft Examination

Following the incident, an examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of rotational scoring on either propeller blade. An inspection of the two wing tanks drained approximately 2 gallons of fuel. According to the pilot's operating handbook for the 1981 Cessna 152, the unusable fuel capacity is 1.5 gallons, meaning approximately 0.5 gallons of usable fuel remained.

Pilot Report

The student pilot reported no additional details regarding the circumstances of the power loss or the landing procedure beyond the impact with the rock and the subsequent nose-over.

Additional Context

Bridgeport was the planned refueling stop for the flight. No further information was provided regarding the pilot's condition or any aircraft damage beyond the inverted resting position and the rock impact.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X08120. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.