20110326006799A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 150F · Hannawa Falls, NY · March 26, 2011

Date: March 26, 2011 · 12:40 local
Place: Hannawa Falls, NY
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N8830G
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA11CA217
Reported as: Cessna 150F
Reported engine: Continental 0-200 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 120 total15 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N8830GRegistered now · Cessna 150FS/N 15062930 · Built 1966 Airframe modelCessna 150F 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.

Pilot had started the trip with full fuel tanks. On the last leg (longest leg) of the trip, pilot encountered strong headwinds. Additionally, to maintain VFR, the pilot climbed to 7500' MSL (planned altitude was 3500'MSL). During the descent to the destination airport (potsdam NY) the engine suddenly lost power. Power could not be restored and pilot realized he would have to make an off-airport landing. During the landing on a road, the left wing struck an obstruction, yawing the airplane to the left. The airplane then struck a snowbank and came to a stop, receiving substantial damage but no injuries tothe pilot.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT HAD STARTED THE TRIP WITH FULL FUEL TANKS. ON THE LAST LEG (LONGEST LEG) OF THE TRIP, PILOT ENCOUNTERED STRONG HEADWINDS. ADDITIONALLY, TO MAINTAIN VFR, THE PILOT CLIMBED TO 7500' MSL (PLANNED ALTITUDE WAS 3500'MSL). DURING THE DESCENT TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT (POTSDAM NY) THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. POWER COULD NOT BE RESTORED AND PILOT REALIZED HE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ON A ROAD, THE LEFT WING STRUCK AN OBSTRUCTION, YAWING THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE THEN STRUCK A SNOWBANK AND CAME TO A STOP, RECEIVING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE BUT NO INJURIES TOTHE PILOT.

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 ERA11CA217Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportHannawana Falls, NYThe pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.Mar 26, 2011 · Substantial damage