# NTSB ATL06CA092: Cessna 150M, N7579U, Shelby, NC, June 13, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2006, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Shelby, NC
- Coordinates: 35.253334, -81.606666
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2533&lon=-81.6067&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Charlotte FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63987
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63987/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA092

## Probable cause

The student pilot's improper preflight inspection and his failure to refuel the airplane resulting in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, he departed Greensboro Southeast Airport en route to Shelby Municipal Airport. At about five miles from the airport the engine lost power and the student made an emergency landing on a road near Shelby. The student turned to avoid a car and collided with a tree. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector found no fuel in the left or right fuel tanks. No fuel leaks were observed, and no fuel smell was evident.

## Factual narrative

On June 13, 2006, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N7579U, registered to and operated by an individual as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, collided with trees during a forced landing following a loss of engine power, in Shelby, North Carolina. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plane was filed. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Greensboro Southeast Airport, Greensboro, North Carolina, on June 13, 2006, at 0830.

According to the student pilot, he departed Greensboro Southeast Airport enroute to Shelby Municipal Airport, Shelby, North Carolina. At about five miles from the airport the engine lost power and the student made an emergency landing on a road near Shelby. The student pilot stated that he turned the airplane to dodge an oncoming automobile, and the left wing struck a tree causing the airplane to spin into a ditch along side of the road, collapsing the nose gear and damaging both wings.

Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector found no fuel in the left or right fuel tanks. No fuel leaks were observed, and no fuel smell was evident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7579U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7579U-2013-02-26), registration cancelled 2013-02-26, S/N 15077747, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 150 77747
- Airframe hours: 7903
- Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michael Brian
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2006, 11.7 hours before
- Departed: 3A4, Greensboro, NC
- Destination: EHO, Shelby, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 37; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 102 total, 27 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: EHO

## 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 20060613012139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060613012139A), Jun 13, 2006: Cessna 150M, Pattersonspring, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) N7579U, a Cessna 150M, piloted by student pilot [privacy data omitted] departed greensboro southeast airport (3A4), greensboro, NC enroute to shelby…

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.

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