Cessna 152 N69183

Summary

On 17 May 2006 at about 21:00 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N69183, operated by Skinner Aviation, Inc, was involved in an accident near Klamath Falls, Oregon, 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.

Date

17 May 2006 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Klamath Falls International (LMT)

Coordinates

42.1603, -121.7167

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N69183

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Skinner Aviation, Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Plush → Ashland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA06CA099

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. Soft terrain was a contributing factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

In a telephone conversation and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that during the return leg to Ashland, he become disoriented and requested vectors to the nearest airport because of concerns about the aircraft's total time aloft and "...my fuel situation." Seattle Center advised the pilot that Chiloquin, Oregon, was approximately 10 miles north-northwest of his position, however it was not known if fuel was available at the airport and the ATC Specialist asked the pilot if Klamath Falls, approximately 35 miles from his location, would be an option. The pilot believed he had sufficient fuel to complete the flight to Klamath, however approximately 2 miles from reaching the airport the airplane's engine began to surge and eventually lost power. The pilot stated that he was unable to reach the runway and elected to land in an open field. As the airplane touched down in the field, it encountered soft muddy terrain and "flipped nose over." The pilot reported that he believed he had approximately 15 minutes of fuel remaining when the airplane lost engine power, however he later stated the airplane "just ran out of fuel." The airplane was "topped" prior to departing Ashland. The Hobbs meter indicated that the airplane had flown approximately 3.6 hours since it had been fueled.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.