Cessna 152 N5533B
9 July 1991 · Indian Springs, Nevada, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 9 July 1991 at about 05:39 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N5533B, operated by Aerleon, Inc., was involved in an accident near Indian Springs, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 05:39
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Indian Springs, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 36.5103, -115.6410
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152
- Registration
- N5533B
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Aerleon, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Furnace Creek → Las Vegas
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- LAX91LA298
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE PILOT BECOMING LOST/DISORIENTED ; 2) THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS; 3) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEEK HELP IN A TIMELY FASHION; AND 4) THE LOSS OF HIS EYEGLASSES WITH THE RESULTANT VISUAL PROBLEMS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT WAS FLYING A NIGHT CROSS-COUNTRY WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND HEAVY RAIN. HE SAID THAT HE BECAME DISORIENTED BECAUSE OF THE DARKNESS AND WEATHER. HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT SEE HIS MAGNETIC COMPASS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT FIND HIS GLASSES. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH TIME HE HAD BEEN FLYING BECAUSE HE LOST HIS WATCH AND THE AIRCRAFT'S CLOCK WAS INOPERABLE. AFTER FLYING AROUND DISORIENTED FOR AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME, HE CONTACTED AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITY FOR ASSISTANCE. ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AFTER HE CONTACTED THEM, THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT ENTERED A FORCED LANDING DESCENT. HE LANDED HARD ON THE NOSE GEAR AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND LESS THAN ONE CUP OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS. NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE COULD BE FOUND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 152 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1991 | Cessna 152 | Rutland, Vermont, United States | Alpine Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 11 May 1991 | Cessna 152 | Pontiac, Michigan, United States | Kitze Avaition, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1991 | Cessna 152 | Miami, Florida, United States | Silver Express, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 1991 | Cessna 152 | Springwater, New York, United States | State Aerial Farm Statistics | No injuries | - |
| 18 Feb 1991 | Cessna 152 | St. Cloud, Florida, United States | Brown's Seaplane Base, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1991 | Cessna 152 II | Lee's Summit, Missouri, United States | Tri-Air Flight School | No injuries | - |
All 3,030 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-32-300 | Reno, Nevada, United States | Joseph Pastuszek | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1991 | Beechcraft V-35 | Minden, Nevada, United States | Sanford Friezner | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1991 | Schweizer SGS 126E | Sutcliffe, Nevada, United States | Nevada Soaring Assoc., Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1991 | Hiller UH12D | Sparks, Nevada, United States | Pathfinder Technology Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 1991 | Boeing 737-3G7 | Elko, Nevada, United States | America West Airlines | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1991 | North American AT-6G | Reno, Nevada, United States | James A. Mott | Minor injuries | - |