Primary finding
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain a visual look out on landing rollout resulting in an on-ground collision with a berm/furrow, and subsequent nose over. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's improper fuel management resulting in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The student pilot experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight. The pilot made a forced landing to an open field and collided with berm/furrow on landing rollout and nosed over inverted. Examination of the fuel system revealed to visible sign of odor of fuel.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 10, 1997, about 1420 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152, N5442B, registered to Marathon Flight School, Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, crashed during a forced landing in the vicinity of La Crosse, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Perry-Foley Airport, Perry, Florida, about 2 hours 5 minutes before the accident. The student pilot was on a solo cross-country instructional flight to Gainesville, Florida, and had departed Perry with 12 gallons of fuel on board. During the cross-country flight she flew off course, became disoriented and did not request immediate assistance, and experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot made a forced landing to an open field, collided with furrows/berm, and nosed over. Examination of the aircraft fuel system revealed no visible signs or odor of fuel. -