Cessna 152 accident near Henderson, Nevada, October 23, 2001
On October 23, 2001 at about 2:35 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67729, was substantially damaged in an accident near Henderson, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel exhaustion during cruise flight due to the pilot's improper in-flight decision. A contributing factor was his improper preflight planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2001 · about 2:35 am local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67729 · no longer on the register · serial 15281984
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he believed the airplane's fuel tanks were full of fuel, and he departed for a planned 3-hour-long flight. The flight took longer than expected. After flying for about 3:50 hours, the engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing and during flare collided with a light pole. No mechanical malfunctions were reported with the engine. During the subsequent investigation, approximately 1.3 gallons of fuel were found in the right fuel tank, and the left fuel tank was found dry. The pilot acknowledged that he "simply ran out of gas."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 206 hours in all; 134 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 149 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 2, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,818 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 8, 2001; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: West Wind Aviation, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: VGT North Las Vegas NV at 10:45 pm
- Destination: VGT North Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from VGT, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.