ATHERTON, CA, USA
N67358
CESSNA 152
THE PILOT SAID THAT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM SAN CARLOS HE DID A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH INCLUDED A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL QUANTITY IN THE TANKS. BEFORE DEPARTING FRESNO FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT, THE PILOT DID NOT INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS AND DID NOT REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING TOWARD THE SAN CARLOS AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND DIED IN WHAT THE PILOT DESCRIBED AS 'CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF FUEL EXHAUSTION.' HE MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD A FLAT AREA NEXT TO SOME BUILDINGS, BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE AREA. THE PILOT THEN SELECTED A CITY STREET ON WHICH TO ATTEMPT A LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND TREES. A RESPONDING COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SAID THAT HE IS A PILOT AND ONE OF THE DESIGNATED SAN MATEO COUNTY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT AND/OR INCIDENT INVESTIGATORS FOR THE DEPARTMENT. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WAS INTACT; HOWEVER, BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. AFTER RECOVERY FROM THE SITE, COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY WAS ESTABLISHED AND ABOUT 1 GALLON OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE SYSTEM.
On October 14, 1994, at 2215 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N67358, collided with power lines and trees while attempting a night forced landing in the city of Atherton, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a complete loss of engine power while descending toward the San Carlos airport. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight originated at San Carlos, California, on the day of the accident and flew to Fresno, California, for an en route stop. The pilot departed Fresno at 2030 for the return flight to San Carlos. In a verbal statement to investigating sheriff's deputies from San Mateo County, the pilot reported that prior to departure from San Carlos he did a preflight inspection which included a visual inspection of the fuel quantity in the tanks. Before departing Fresno for the return flight, the pilot did not inspect the fuel tanks and did not refuel the aircraft. The pilot noted that he was descending toward the San Carlos airport when the engine sputtered and died in what he described as "classic symptoms of fuel exhaustion." The pilot maneuvered the aircraft to attempt a landing in a flat area next to some buildings, but he did not have sufficient altitude to reach the area. The pilot then selected a city street on which to attempt a landing and collided with power lines and trees. The investigating sheriff's deputy reported that he is a pilot and one of the designated San Mateo County aircraft accident and/or incident investigators for the department. He stated that the aircraft fuel system was intact; however, both fuel tanks were empty. After recovery from the site, complete fuel system integrity was established and approximately 1 gallon of fuel was drained from the system. The pilot did not complete a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, as requested.
the pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations and failure to refuel the aircraft while en route.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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