# Accident 20000817036309A: Cessna 150M, Chapin, IL, August 17, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 17, 2000, 11:00 local time
- Place: Chapin, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.7602° N, 90.3992° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7602&lon=-90.3992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N304JF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N304JF-2002-11-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150M (registry code 2071830, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Reported engine: CONT O200*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 167 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI00LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA260) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000817036309A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON AUGUST 17, 2000 AT APPROX. 1129 CDT THE PILOT IN COMMAND, AND SOLE OCCUPANT, DEPARTED WILLIAMS RLS (30LL) ON A PLEASURE FLIGHT TO JACKSONVILLE, IL (IJX). THE PIC EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO TRY A EMERGENCY LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN CROSSWAYS ON A HIGHWAY, ON A HEADING OF ABOUT 330 DEGREES, BOUNCED THEN HIT AN EMBANKMENT NEXT TO THE HIGHWAY, BOUNCED AGAIN AND CAME TO REST ON ITS NOSE IN A BEAN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE NOSE GEAR, COWL, ENGINE, PROPELLER, FIREWALL, AND LOWER FRONT OF THE FUSELAGE. THE PILOT SUFFERED A MINOR CUT ABOVE HIS RIGHT EYE, AND ON HIS RIGHT HAND.(.4) THE PILOT SAID THAT HE 'DID ENGINE RUN UP AND TOOK OFF TO THE WEST. AS SOON AS I STARTED TO CLIMB THE ENGINE LOST POWER. I [THE PILOT] PUT THE NOSE DOWN AND THE ENGINE PICKUP POWER. AS I STARTED TO NOSE UP THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN.' THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING AND STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT. THE PILOT'S STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE AND MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED. THE PILOT LISTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURE AND DESCRIBED THE FAILURE AS 'FUEL STARVATION'. THE PILOT LISTED THE FUEL ON BOARD AT TAKEOFF AS 3.0 GALLONS. THE CESSNA 150M OWNER'S MANUAL LISTS THE TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY AS 26.0 GALLONS, THE USABLE FUEL IN ALL FLIGHT CONDITIONS AS 22.5 GALLONS, AND THE UNUSABLE FUEL AS 3.5 GALLONS. A POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK HAD A TRACE OF FUEL, THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD ABOUT 1/4 INCH OF FUEL, AND THE FIREWALL FUEL FILTER WAS EMPTY. NO OTHER ANOMALIES WERE FOUND THAT COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH A PREEXISTING CONDITION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI00LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA260), Aug 17, 2000: Cessna 150M (N304JF), Chapin, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to refuel the aircraft prior to the flight and exhaustion of the fuel supply. A factor to the accident was the embankment.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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