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Casualties unknown

Student Pilot Forced to Land After Engine Failure on Solo Cross-Country (N69073)

Fort Worth, TX, US

On July 2, 1997, a Cessna 152 (registration N69073) operated by Bridgeport Flight Training was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Worth, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: fuel exhaustion, due to the pilot's failure to refuel before taking off on the remainder of the flight after making a precautionary 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 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot on her first solo cross-country flight became lost, landed at a different airport, then lost engine power en route to her destination, resulting in a forced landing that struck a utility pole. No fuel was found in the tanks.

Accident Details

A student pilot was conducting her first solo cross-country flight, planned as a 122 nautical mile VFR round trip with an estimated duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes. The aircraft departed with approximately 19 to 20 gallons of fuel, and the engine's normal cruise fuel burn was about 6 gallons per hour.

Sequence of Events

During the return leg of the flight, the pilot became lost and landed at an airport approximately 20 miles from her intended destination. She subsequently took off again in an attempt to reach her destination. While en route, the engine lost power. The pilot executed a forced landing, during which the airplane skidded along a roadway and struck a utility pole.

The aircraft had been operating for about 3 hours and 15 minutes before the loss of power. At the accident site, no usable fuel was found in the tanks.

Investigation Findings

The investigation documented the fuel quantity at departure, the engine's fuel burn rate, and the total operating time. No usable fuel remained in the aircraft at the accident site.

Fuel exhaustion & starvation

Related events

Same aircraft family

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2 Jul 1997 Cessna 152 accident near Fort Worth, TX?

A student pilot on her first solo cross-country flight became lost, landed at a different airport, then lost engine power en route to her destination, resulting in a forced landing that struck a utility pole. No fuel was found in the tanks.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Jul 1997 involved a Cessna 152, registration N69073, operated by Bridgeport Flight Training, at Fort Worth, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

fuel exhaustion, due to the pilot's failure to refuel before taking off on the remainder of the flight after making a precautionary landing. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot becoming lost and disoriented, and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X08365. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.