No fatalities

25 Jan 2009: CESSNA 152 — Famco Aviation, Inc — Titusville, FL

Titusville, FL, United States

On 25 Jan 2009, a CESSNA 152 operated by Famco Aviation, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Titusville, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of engine power during approach due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel planning. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During final approach, the Cessna 152's engine quit at about 400 feet. The pilot could not reach the runway and the airplane impacted trees. Fuel gauges indicated low fuel; only ounces were drained post-accident. Adding 2 gallons allowed normal engine run.

Accident Overview

The pilot of a Cessna 152 completed a 4.2 hour cross-country flight that included 11 touch-and-go landings. On final approach to land, at approximately 400 feet above the ground, the airplane's engine "quit." The pilot was unable to reach the runway, and the airplane impacted trees short of the runway.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that during the last circuit around the airport traffic pattern, the fuel gauges showed the right fuel tank was 1/4 full and the left fuel tank was less than 1/4 full.

Post-Accident Examination

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the airplane at the scene and noted no evidence of fuel spillage. After the airplane was recovered, approximately 3 to 4 total ounces of fuel were drained from all of the fuel drains. The airplane was then serviced with 2 gallons of fuel, and the engine was run at 1,200 rpm for 3 minutes with no anomalies noted.

Contributing factors

Fluid levelPilot