Cessna 152 N49925

Summary

On 20 March 1989 at about 05:58 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N49925, operated by Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, was involved in an accident near San Jose, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 March 1989 at 05:58

Classification

Accident

Location

San Jose, California, United States

Coordinates

37.7901, -122.3896

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N49925

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Sierra Academy of Aeronautics

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Van Nuys → Oakland

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX89LA128

2 people had minor injuries.

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: DARK NIGHT,TREES, AND THE BUILDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AT 1830 PST, THE PLT TOOK OFF FROM VAN NUYS, CA, ON A FLT TO OAKLAND, CA, WITH A PLANNED PASSENGER STOP AT HAYWARD, CA. HE STATED THAT AT ABOUT 2150 PST, BEFORE REACHING HAYWARD, THE ENG LOST POWER. HE TURNED TOWARD THE NEAREST ARPT, WHICH WAS AT SAN JOSE, CA, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH IT. DRG AN EMERG LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & A BLDG, THEN CAME TO REST IN A PARKING LOT. DRG A POST-ACDNT EXAM OF THE ACFT, ONLY ABOUT 1-1/4 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND REMAINING.ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA OPERATING MANUAL, 1-1/2 GAL OF FUEL WAS CONSIDERED TO BE UNUSABLE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE ACFT AFTER THE ACDNT & NO MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS REPORTED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.