Cessna 152 accident near Jensen Beach, Florida, March 1, 1991
On March 1, 1991 at about 7:00 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5282H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jensen Beach, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE UNRELIABLE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1991 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Jensen Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5282H · no longer on the register · serial 15284080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF & THE ACFT WAS FLOWN FOR .5 HOUR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT PLT RENTED THE ACFT. NO FURTHER SERVICING WAS PERFORMED. THE ACCIDENT FLT DEPARTED WITH LESS-THAN-FULL TANKS & WHILE RETURNING TO LAND FOLLOWING AN APRX 3-HR FLT, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT STARTED IT MOMENTARILY BUT IT QUIT AGAIN. DURING THE LANDING ROLL FOLLOWING THE FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A PALM TREE. THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED WHICH REVEALED THAT THEY CONTAINED 1.5 GALS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE UNUSABLE FUEL QUANTITY FOR BOTH FUEL TANKS IS 1.5 GALS. REVIEW OF ACFT RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE ACFT WAS OPERATED FOR 3.8 HRS SINCE LAST REFUELING.
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: 131 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,750 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 25, 1991; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FPR Fort Pierce FL at 6:55 am
- Destination: SUA Stuart FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 am from PBI, 50 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.