Plane Crash List

Cessna 152 N5525L

7 October 1996 · Gulf of Mexico, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 7 October 1996 at about 21:15 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N5525L, operated by Aero Academy, was involved in an accident near Gulf of Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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 21:15
Classification
Accident
Location
Gulf of Mexico, United States
Coordinates
29.3006, -94.7903
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Registration
N5525L
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Aero Academy
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Galveston → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
FTW97LA010

People

2 people had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 2 0

Probable cause

fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel consumption calculations.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane ran out of fuel approximately 11 miles SSE of Galveston, Texas. The pilot transmitted a 'MAYDAY' radio call to Galveston Airport tower, informing them that he ran out of fuel and was going to ditch near an oil rig. After ditching, both occupants swam to the rig safely. The aircraft sank and has not been recovered. The pilot stated that he departed the airport with full fuel tanks (24.5 gallons usable) at 1200, and flew approximately 100 miles outbound into the Gulf of Mexico on a magnetic course of 147 degrees. At about 1335, after completion of the aerial survey, he proceeded inbound on a 355 degree course for the return to Galveston. In a weather brief prior to his initial departure, the forecast winds were 030 degrees at 25 knots. According to the pilot, the actual winds 'turned out to be a great deal stronger and from a more northerly heading.' Usable fuel was exhausted at approximately 1505, about 10 miles from the shore line. The airplane was airborne for about 3 hours 5 minutes.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 152 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
7 Mar 1996 Cessna 152
N5531M
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Aerleon Flight School No injuries -
8 Mar 1996 Cessna 152
N49048
Santa Paula, California, United States - Serious injuries -
17 Mar 1996 Cessna 152
N5530Q
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States - No injuries -
14 Jul 1996 Cessna 152
N6468Q
Blue Ash, Ohio, United States - No injuries -
13 Jan 1996 Cessna 152
N111UF
Spring, Texas, United States - No injuries -
25 Mar 1996 Cessna 152
N24963
Carlsbad, California, United States California Wings of San Diego No injuries -

All 3,030 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
8 Aug 1996 Lancair 320
N320L
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, United States - Fatal 1
9 Aug 1996 Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
N6966K
Wellfleet, Nebraska, United States - No injuries -
21 Sep 1996 Cessna T210L
N369PT
Lonestar, Texas, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -
7 Jan 1996 Mooney M20F
N9199V
Cape Charles, Virginia, United States - Fatal 1
9 Mar 1996 Cessna 150M
N704XQ
Ormond Beach, Florida, United States - No injuries -
5 Aug 1996 Cessna U206F
N8313Q
Crane Island, Washington, United States West Isle Air No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States