Cessna 152 accident near Gainesville, Florida, September 14, 1994
On September 14, 1994 at about 1:06 am local time, a Cessna 152, registered N6517M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gainesville, Florida (Gainesville Regional airport). It was an instructional 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO CALCULATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CORRECTLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1994 · about 1:06 am local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Florida · Gainesville Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6517M · no longer on the register · serial 15284762
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA FAA FLIGHT SERVICE THAT HE WAS EN ROUTE FROM LAKE CITY, FLORIDA TO GAINESVILLE AND THAT HE WAS LOW ON FUEL. WHILE ON APPROACH TO GAINESVILLE THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE AIRCRAFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN TREES. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY AN FAA INSPECTOR INDICATED THERE WAS NO USABLE FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT AND THAT THERE WAS NO REPORTED FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE OR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN OVER 6 HOURS SINCE THE LAST REFUELING. THE OPERATOR STATED THE AIRCRAFT HAS A 37 GALLON USABLE CAPACITY AND CONSUMES 6 GALLONS PER HOUR.
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: 80 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,897 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 1994; 10 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: 31J Lake City FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 7,503 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.