ROANOKE, VA, USA
N211SP
CESSNA 152
THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE HAD NOT FLOWN IN THIS MAKE OF AIRPLANE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH ITS FUEL MIXTURE LEANING PROCEDURE. ON THE DAY BEFORE A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, SHE REFUELED THE AIRPLANE AND FLEW IT ABOUT .4 HOURS. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT REFUELED BEFORE THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE PILOT'S ESTIMATED TIME EN ROUTE WAS TWO HOURS AND FORTY MINUTES. HOWEVER, DURING THE FLIGHT, THE GROUND SPEED WAS LESS THAN SHE HAD PLANNED, AND VECTORS AROUND TRAFFIC, AS WELL AS OTHER DELAYS, WERE ENCOUNTERED. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ABOUT 10 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS AND FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT HAYFIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE NOSEWHEEL COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS OR FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE WRECKAGE AREA.
On September 2, 1995, at 1152 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N211SP, experienced a loss of engine power while on approach to the Roanoke Regional Airport, Roanoke, VA. The airplane was destroyed during the emergency landing. The pilot received minor injuries. An instrument flight plan had been filed and activated. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Jefferson/Jackson County Airport, Jefferson, Georgia, at approximately 0835 eastern daylight time. The pilot stated that the airplane's fuel tanks were filled the previous evening. The pilot reported that she then flew the airplane for 4 tenths of an hour doing touch and go landings. The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection the next morning, the fuel tanks appeared full and no one had flown the airplane after her flight the previous evening. The pilot stated that it was her understanding that the accident airplane had the capability of four hours of flight. She reported that the airplane's fuel tanks held 24.5 gallons of usable fuel and the fuel consumption rate was approximately 6 gallons per hour. The pilot subtracted the .4 hour flown the evening prior and calculated that there should have been approximately 3.6 hours of fuel onboard. The pilot concluded there was plenty of fuel for the planned 2 hour and 40 minute flight to Roanoke, Virginia. The Piper Cherokee 140 that the pilot normally flew, was not available for this trip. The pilot stated that she had not flown in the accident make/model airplane for some time, and was not familiar with the fuel mixture leaning procedures in the accident airplane. The instrument rated pilot stated that during the flight she calculated her ground speed as less than what she had planned. She also reported that vectors around traffic and other delays she encountered while en route on an IFR flight plan extended her flight time. About three hours and fifteen minutes after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 10 miles from the destination airport, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot stated the engine restarted briefly during the emergency descent, then stopped again. The pilot made a forced landing in a soft hayfield. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. Posaccident examination of the aircraft revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction, and no usable fuel in either of the fuel tanks. Examination of the accident site revealed no evidence of aviation fuel spillage.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PLANNING/PREPARATION, HER LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND SOFT TERRAIN IN THE FORCED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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