N4594B

On July 11, 1997, at 1830 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 152, N4594B, collided with a tree following a complete loss of power during a descent for landing at Gila Bend, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a cross-country solo instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Chandler, Arizona, at 1600 and made an en route stop in Yuma.

According to an Aviation Safety Technician at the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office, the pilot said he did "not check the fuel or add fuel" while he was in Yuma, Arizona. He arrived in Yuma at 1730 and flew back to Gila Bend to practice touch-and-go landings. During the descent the engine quit. The student pilot made several attempts at a airborne restart of the engine with no success. He attempted to land on a highway and subsequently hit a tree, where the airplane nosed over.

According to the pilot's written statement, he said that his instructor told him he had only enough fuel for the cross-country flight to Yuma, Gila Bend, and returning to Chandler. The student pilot said he visually checked the fuel prior to takeoff, and that the fuel was at the top of the wing. After takeoff, he stated that the fuel gauges were reading empty.

The certified flight instructor said he reviewed the student pilot's cross-country flight plan. He stated that the total distance for the flight was 294 nautical miles. He estimated that the total time estimated for the complete round trip was 3 hours 20 minutes. In his written statement, the student pilot said his flight instructor "reassured me that I had enough fuel, and I took his word on it." The student pilot did not perform a preflight inspection of the aircraft prior to taking off from Yuma.

The student pilot had successfully completed two solo cross-country flights prior to this flight, and had passed a company pre-solo written test, which discussed the fuel burn requirements of the Cessna 152.