Accident Details
On January 17, 2016, at 1945 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, registration N6135M, experienced a total loss of engine power while en route to Madison Municipal Airport (52A), Madison, Georgia. The commercial pilot made a forced landing to a road, during which the left wing struck a telephone pole. Both the pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, left wing, and fuselage.
Flight History
The flight originated from Northeast Florida Regional Airport (SGJ), St. Augustine, Florida, at about 1600, destined for Gwinnett County - Briscoe Field Airport (LZU), Lawrenceville, Georgia. No flight plan was filed. Visual flight rules conditions prevailed at the accident site. The airplane was registered to a private company and operated by Florida Flyers Flight Academy under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated he rented the airplane from his employer to fly to his home in Georgia. Pre-flight planning included weather briefing with a forecast 20-knot headwind. He visually checked each fuel tank before departure, verifying they were topped off for a total of 26 gallons (24.5 usable). He did not plan to stop for fuel for the 275.6 nautical mile flight.
After departing at 1600, the pilot climbed to 5,500 ft. The flight was normal until about 3.5 hours into the flight, approximately 50 miles from Lawrenceville, after descending to 3,500 ft. The engine began to run rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat, which briefly restored power. He contacted air traffic control and diverted to Madison. En route, the engine lost power again. The pilot trimmed for best glide speed and attempted to restart the engine without success. Unable to reach the airport, he executed a forced landing to a road.
The pilot reported that before takeoff both fuel gauges indicated full. About an hour into the flight, the right gauge showed empty and the left gauge was just below full; he considered this normal. When asked about the cause of the power loss, the pilot stated, "It was most likely fuel starvation" and confirmed he ran out of gas.
Post-Accident Observations
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector observed both fuel tanks were empty. The company that recovered the airplane reported both wing tanks intact and empty. The firewall was wrinkled, the nose gear bent aft, the right main landing gear separated, and the left wing had leading edge impact damage. No damage was noted to the right wing.
A representative of Florida Flyers stated the airplane was fueled with 17.1 gallons of 100LL on the morning of the accident and not flown until the accident flight.
Aircraft Performance Information
According to the Cessna 152 Pilot Operating Handbook, with 26 total gallons (24.5 usable), the airplane has about 3.1 hours of fuel endurance at cruise power.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate for airplane single- and multi-engine land, instrument airplane, and was a certified flight instructor for single-engine land. He also held a type rating for the SA-227. His last FAA first-class medical was issued March 11, 2015, with a restriction to wear corrective lenses.
Weather Conditions
At LZU, about 33 miles northwest of the accident site, at 1945, weather was reported as calm wind, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 7°C, dewpoint 0°C, and barometric pressure 29.85 inches Hg.