Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AFTER BECOMING TEMPORARILY LOST, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DISPATCH OF THE STUDENT ON THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT BY THE CFI WITH AN ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME OF 22 MINUTES AFTER THE OFFICIAL SUNSET. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On December 30, 1993, about 1930 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150F, N8532G, registered to Micro Aviation Inc., crashed about 5 miles south of the Palm Beach County Park Airport, Lantana, Florida, while on a 14 CFR 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Lantana, Florida, about 3 hours 36 minutes earlier.
During the return leg of the cross-country flight, the student pilot became temporarily lost and he did not obtain emergency assistance. After determining his location he proceeded to his destination but the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field during which the aircraft was substantially damaged.
Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the left fuel tank contained only a residual quantity of fuel and the right fuel tank contained about 1 pint of fuel. The airplane had been operated for 3.6 hours indicated by the Hobbs meter since fueling.
The certified flight instructor dispatched the student on the two leg cross-country flight with an estimated completion time about 22 minutes after the official sunset.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# MIA94LA042