Summary
On February 10, 1998, a Cessna 152 (N25952) was involved in an accident near Georgetown, SC. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff from an unsuitable area of roadway, following a forced landing after the engine had lost power, due to fuel exhaustion; and his failure to maintain clearance from obstructions, while attempting the takeoff. The obstructions (sign and telephone pole) were related factors.
On February 10, 1998, about 1405 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N25952, registered to Air Chesterfield, Inc., collided with a sign and a telephone pole while attempting to take off from a road near Georgetown, South Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personnel flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the private-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that en route to Charleston, South Carolina, from Richmond, Virginia, with one passenger, the engine sputtered and lost power, in the area of Georgetown. He made a successful landing in a field and let the aircraft roll out onto a dirt road at the end of the field.
This accident is documented in NTSB report MIA98LA077. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N25952.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff from an unsuitable area of roadway, following a forced landing after the engine had lost power, due to fuel exhaustion; and his failure to maintain clearance from obstructions, while attempting the takeoff. The obstructions (sign and telephone pole) were related factors.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On February 10, 1998, about 1405 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N25952, registered to Air Chesterfield, Inc., collided with a sign and a telephone pole while attempting to take off from a road near Georgetown, South Carolina, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personnel flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the private-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that en route to Charleston, South Carolina, from Richmond, Virginia, with one passenger, the engine sputtered and lost power, in the area of Georgetown. He made a successful landing in a field and let the aircraft roll out onto a dirt road at the end of the field. He caught a ride to the Georgetown Airport and bought fuel. After adding the fuel to the aircraft, he started the engine and performed an engine runup. Everything checked out fine. The passenger was to catch a ride to the Georgetown Airport, about 20 miles away, and he taxied the aircraft to a paved road and attempted to take off to fly there and pick up the passenger. During the takeoff roll, the left wing struck a sign, causing the aircraft to veer to the left. The aircraft then struck a utility pole and came to rest. A postcrash fire erupted destroying the aircraft. The pilot stated to an FAA inspector after the accident, "he couldn't believe he did something so stupid like this, on top of running out of fuel."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA98LA077