Probable cause
The pilots' inadequate fuel planning, resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
NTSB analysis
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the two private pilots reported that they landed at numerous airports before returning back to the original airport. About 15 miles south of the destination, the engine began to run rough and experienced a loss of power. After the airplane landed in a pond, one of the pilots reported to a witness that the airplane had run out of fuel. A postaccident examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that no fuel was in the right tank and only 4 pints of fuel was in the left tank.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10CA433 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 18, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Miami, Florida
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 152
- N-number
- N24870
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.