Cessna 152 accident near Gila Bend, Arizona, July 12, 1997
On July 12, 1997 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N4594B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gila Bend, Arizona (Gila Bend airport). It was an instructional 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
the pilot's failure to verify the fuel quantity prior to departure, and his failure to perform sufficient en route fuel consumption calculations during the cross-country flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1997 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Gila Bend, Arizona · Gila Bend · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4594B · registry record · serial 15283547
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot took off for his third cross-country solo flight. He stated that he took his fight instructor's word that there would be enough fuel for the entire flight. He did not perform any fuel consumption calculations en route, nor did he visually check the fuel quantity levels after he reached his intermediate destination. The airplane ran out of fuel prior to reaching his second destination. During an emergency landing, the airplane hit trees and was damaged.
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: student
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YUM Yuma AZ
- Destination: E63
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 4, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from GYR
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.
Other NTSB records under N4594B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.