Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S POOR PROCEDURES AND FAILURE TO FLY TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, ENCOUNTER WITH UNFAVORABLE WINDS, AND THE DARK NIGHT.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On May 10, 1993, at about 2310 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152, N76284, collided with a fence, and subsequently nosed over during a forced landing near Santa Ynez, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to Reese Aviation, Livermore, California, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Livermore Municipal Airport at about 2010 hours.
According to the FAA, the pilot reportedly told the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center sector controller that he was "critical fuel." The FAA inspector who examined the aircraft reportedly found no fuel in the fuel tanks. He stated that there was a noticeable lack of fuel smell near the accident site.
The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he had received a weather briefing before departing on the accident flight. While enroute the flight encountered stronger headwinds. The pilot also stated that he had not checked the airplane's groundspeed during the enroute phase of the flight.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX93LA213