# NTSB ANC01LA074: Cessna 150D, N73CC, Soldotna, AK, June 26, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2001, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.483333, -151.03334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4833&lon=-151.0333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 53203 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53203/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA074 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot had departed a local private airstrip and was seen flying in the local area. A witness in the area related that the airplane seemed to lose engine power, and turn towards the private airstrip he had departed. The airplane collided with trees prior to reaching the airstrip. Postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed no evidence of any mechanical anomalies. Both fuel tanks were intact, and contained a less than useable quantity of fuel. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2001, about 0915 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 150D airplane, N73CC, received substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near Soldotna, Alaska. The solo student pilot received serious injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane departed a nearby private airstrip about 0900. According to witnesses, the airplane was flying in the vicinity of the departure airstrip when the engine appeared to lose power. The airplane then descended rapidly and collided with trees and the ground. Two FAA Flight Standards Inspectors went to the crash site about two hours after the accident. They reported that the engine did not appear to be developing power upon impact, and that the fuel tanks were intact, but contained a less than usable quantity of fuel. No mechanical anomalies were observed by the inspector's at the crash site. The pilot was hospitalized with serious injuries, and was not available to be interviewed. The pilot was sent an NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report form, but it was not completed. The pilot's brother wrote a letter of explanation, indicating his brother was severely injured, and was unable to complete the accident form. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73CC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73CC-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 15060128, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150D - Registry model: [Cessna 150D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150d) (registry code 2071810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15060128 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Irvin L. Faass - Registered owner: Pierce W. Bassett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: Soldotna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010626039959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010626039959A), Jun 26, 2001: Cessna 150D, Soldotna, AK, Destroyed. (-23) On June 26, 2001, N73CC, a Cessna 150-D airplane crashed and was destroyed about 300 yards from a private landing field. The owner of the private… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.