Cessna 152 accident near Atherton, California, October 15, 1994
On October 15, 1994 at about 5:15 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67358, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atherton, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations and failure to refuel the aircraft while en route.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1994 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Atherton, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67358 · no longer on the register · serial 15281776
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM SAN CARLOS HE DID A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH INCLUDED A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL QUANTITY IN THE TANKS. BEFORE DEPARTING FRESNO FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT, THE PILOT DID NOT INSPECT THE FUEL TANKS AND DID NOT REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING TOWARD THE SAN CARLOS AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND DIED IN WHAT THE PILOT DESCRIBED AS 'CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF FUEL EXHAUSTION.' HE MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD A FLAT AREA NEXT TO SOME BUILDINGS, BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE AREA. THE PILOT THEN SELECTED A CITY STREET ON WHICH TO ATTEMPT A LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AND TREES. A RESPONDING COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SAID THAT HE IS A PILOT AND ONE OF THE DESIGNATED SAN MATEO COUNTY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT AND/OR INCIDENT INVESTIGATORS FOR THE DEPARTMENT. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM WAS INTACT; HOWEVER, BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. AFTER RECOVERY FROM THE SITE, COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY WAS ESTABLISHED AND ABOUT 1 GALLON OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE SYSTEM.
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
- Flight time: 275 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAT Fresno CA at 3:30 am
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 320° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 am from SFO, 13 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.