20250812010239A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 150M · Fordsville, KY · August 12, 2025

Date: August 12, 2025 · 20:05 local
Place: Fordsville, KY
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9400U
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA25LA299
Reported as: Cessna 150M
Reported engine: Continental 0-200 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 160 total110 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N9400URegistration cancelled Jan 6, 2026 · Cessna 150MS/N 15078348 Airframe modelCessna 150M 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 stated that the engine RPM went to idle, checked both magnetos and attempted to restart the engine but would only run at 1000 RPM. Pilot made an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft sustained substantial damage from terrain impact during landing. There was no impact fire. Post impact inspection revealed no fuel in wing tanks (with no tank rupture) as well as no fuel in the gascolator

As the FAA filed it

PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPM WENT TO IDLE, CHECKED BOTH MAGNETOS AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT WOULD ONLY RUN AT 1000 RPM. PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM TERRAIN IMPACT DURING LANDING. THERE WAS NO IMPACT FIRE. POST IMPACT INSPECTION REVEALED NO FUEL IN WING TANKS (WITH NO TANK RUPTURE) AS WELL AS NO FUEL IN THE GASCOLATOR

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 ERA25LA299Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportFordsville, KYThe pilot’s improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing.Aug 13, 2025 · Substantial damage