# NTSB ATL04LA009: Cessna 150G, N4662X, Jeykll Island, GA, October 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 6, 2003, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Jeykll Island, GA - Coordinates: 31.079721, -81.433334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0797&lon=-81.4333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58096 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58096/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's preflight planning and the mismanagement of the fuel supply that resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system - exhaustion (contributing factor) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, about 10 minutes after takeoff he noticed a "power drop" and a noise on the pilot side which sounded like exhaust, as if he had blown a cylinder or lost compression. He said that at first he could not go above 1200 feet mean sea level (MSL). When the pilot was not able to maintain altitude, the pilot elected to make a forced landing into a swamp. On the approach for the landing the pilot pulled the nose of the airplane up and airplane collided with trees. Examination of the airplane found leading edge damage to both wings and twisting of the fuselage. Examination of the engine, found no evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks, fuel lines, fuel gascolator or in the carburetor. On May 3, 2005 at 1500 eastern daylight time, the pilot was asked about the amount of fuel he had onboard his airplane at the time of the accident. On his Pilot/Operator Report he stated that he departed with 21-gallons of fuel on board. However, at the time of the accident there was no fuel found in the fuel tanks. The pilot stated that he did not recall if he had checked the fuel tanks prior to takeoff. He also said that at the accident site there was no fuel spill according to the local authorities on-scene. He stated that if there was no fuel on the airplane then he could not argue with the findings. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 2003, at 1950 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N4662X, registered to and operated by the private pilot collided with trees following a loss of engine power while on approach to Jeykll Island airport in Jeykll Island, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Mc Kinnon Airport, Brunswick, Georgia on October 6, 2003 at 1930. According to the pilot, about 10 minutes after takeoff he noticed a "power drop" and a noise on the pilot side which sounded like exhaust, as if he had blown a cylinder or lost compression. He said that at first he could not go above 1200 feet mean sea level (MSL). He stated that his oil temperature, oil pressure, and fuel gauges were all normal, and that he had about 3/4 fuel. He then stated that he could no longer maintain altitude and turned southwest toward Jekyll Island airport. He said his altitude dropped to 800 feet msl and his tachometer was reading 2500 rpm. At this point he was looking for an alternate landing site. He ruled out a highway due to traffic and elected to attempt a forced landing into a swamp. On the approach he pulled the nose of the airplane "way up" and with the tail down and collided with trees and subsequently the ground. Examination of the airplane found leading edge damage to both wings and twisting of the fuselage. Examination of the engine found no evidence of fuel in the fuel lines, fuel gascolator or in the carburetor. During a telephone conversation with the pilot he was asked about the amount of fuel he had onboard his airplane at the time of the accident. On his Pilot/Operator Report he stated that he departed with 21-gallons of fuel on board. However, during the post-accident examination there was no fuel found in the fuel tanks. The pilot stated that he did not recall if he had checked the fuel tanks prior to takeoff. He also said that at the accident site there was no fuel spill according to the local authorities on-scene. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4662X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4662X-2016-08-12), registration cancelled 2016-08-12, S/N 15064712, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064712 - Airframe hours: 4206 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alexander M. Clark - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2003, 164.4 hours before - Departed: BQK, Glynco Jetport, GA - Destination: 09J, Jeykll Island, GA - Airport: 09J, Jekyll Island, runway 18, 3,711 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 294 total, 181 in this make and model, 294 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SSI, 10 nm away 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.