20070420004529A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 150E · Whitharral, TX · April 20, 2007

Date: April 20, 2007 · 17:10 local
Place: Whitharral, TX
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3523J
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA07CA100
Reported as: Cessna 150E
Reported engine: Continental O200*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 100 total100 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N3523JRegistration cancelled Feb 11, 2010 · Cessna 150ES/N 15061223 · Built 1965 Airframe modelCessna 150E 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) On April 20, 2007, aircraft departed levelland, Texas (lln) for a round trip cross-country to vega, Texas (E52). Second pilot flew first leg of the cross-country and arrived at E52. Aircraft departed E52 for return trip to lln with first pilot at controls. Approximately ten miles north of lln, the engine ceased operating due to fuel starvation. The pilot initiated an emergency landing in a plowed cotton field, resulting in damage to the engine mount, firewall, nose gear, and main gear.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON APRIL 20, 2007, AIRCRAFT DEPARTED LEVELLAND, TEXAS (LLN) FOR A ROUND TRIP CROSS-COUNTRY TO VEGA, TEXAS (E52). SECOND PILOT FLEW FIRST LEG OF THE CROSS-COUNTRY AND ARRIVED AT E52. AIRCRAFT DEPARTED E52 FOR RETURN TRIP TO LLN WITH FIRST PILOT AT CONTROLS. APPROXIMATELY TEN MILES NORTH OF LLN, THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATING DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PLOWED COTTON FIELD, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE MOUNT, FIREWALL, NOSE GEAR, AND MAIN GEAR.

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 SEA07CA100Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLevelland, TXThe pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.Apr 20, 2007 · Substantial damage