Accident Details
On December 28, 2018, at approximately 2015 central standard time, a Cessna 152 airplane, registration N6202M, impacted terrain after a loss of engine power while en route to Kelly Field Airport (KSKF) in San Antonio, Texas. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Flyokair, LLC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The flight had departed Shawnee, Oklahoma, about 1655. The pilot reported being airborne for about 2 hours and expecting to reach the destination in approximately 15 minutes.
Pilot Account
About 30–45 minutes after that estimate, the engine began to lose power. The pilot contacted air traffic control for vectors to the nearest airport. He then observed the engine gauges: left fuel gauge indicated ½, and the right gauge indicated less than ½. The pilot considered landing on a highway if unable to reach an airport.
In an attempt to restore engine power, the pilot applied carburetor heat. The engine responded, allowing the airplane to climb and gain altitude. The pilot believed the engine may have experienced carburetor icing because it responded to carburetor heat. However, a few minutes later, the engine lost power again, and further attempts to restore it were unsuccessful. The pilot established a glide and selected terrain for a forced landing. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain.
Damage and Fuel
The airplane recovery crew noted substantial damage. The fuel tanks were found empty, with no evidence of fuel leakage onto the ground. The tanks had not been breached during the accident.
Pilot Comments
In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (Form 6120), under recommendations for prevention, the pilot wrote: "Better calculation and review of distance, fuel in time, and time in flight."
During a follow-up conversation with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot did not clarify how he checked the fuel tanks before departure. He stated that he did not add fuel before departure. The pilot also said he had spoken with the airplane's owner and admitted that he ran out of fuel.