20030808024729A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 150K · Anderson, MO · August 8, 2003

Date: August 8, 2003 · 20:15 local
Place: Anderson, MO
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6501G
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI03LA252
Reported as: Cessna 150K
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 29 total29 in this make and model14 in the last 90 days

N6501GRegistration cancelled Feb 14, 2005 · Cessna 150KS/N 15072001 · Built 1970 Airframe modelCessna 150K Engine modelContinental 0-200 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Enroute to neosho, Missouri (eos) on the final leg of a solo cross-country flight, the student pilot reported loss of engine power near Anderson, Missouri. A witness reported that the engine was sputtering and the aircraft attempted to land in a pasture. During the approach to the pasture, the student pilot may have attempted to continue the flight after the engine started to run normal again for 4 to 5 seconds. However, the engine again failed and the aircraft struck trees while in a steep right bank and descended to the ground. Post accident investigation recovered 1.75 gallons of fuel from the left tank and no fuel from the right tank. Fuel capacity of this aircraft is 26 gallons (22.5 usable). The student pilot was reported lost for some time near stockton, Missouri (MO3) and on the last leg near Anderson, Missouri. Flight time of 4 hours between take-off and the accident approximates the reported total fuel on board at the beginning of the multiple leg cross-country.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ENROUTE TO NEOSHO, MISSOURI (EOS) ON THE FINAL LEG OF A SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR ANDERSON, MISSOURI. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING AND THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A PASTURE. DURING THE APPROACH TO THE PASTURE, THE STUDENT PILOT MAY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT AFTER THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN NORMAL AGAIN FOR 4 TO 5 SECONDS. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE AGAIN FAILED AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES WHILE IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION RECOVERED 1.75 GALLONS OF FUEL FROM THE LEFT TANK AND NO FUEL FROM THE RIGHT TANK. FUEL CAPACITY OF THIS AIRCRAFT IS 26 GALLONS (22.5 USABLE). THE STUDENT PILOT WAS REPORTED LOST FOR SOME TIME NEAR STOCKTON, MISSOURI (MO3) AND ON THE LAST LEG NEAR ANDERSON, MISSOURI. FLIGHT TIME OF 4 HOURS BETWEEN TAKE-OFF AND THE ACCIDENT APPROXIMATES THE REPORTED TOTAL FUEL ON BOARD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MULTIPLE LEG CROSS-COUNTRY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI03LA252Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAnderson, MOA loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot becoming lost/disoriented. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision.Aug 9, 2003 · Substantial damage