# NTSB ATL92LA186: Cessna 150M, N7764U, Nashville, TN, September 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 29, 1992, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Nashville, TN
- Coordinates: 36.049095, -86.970001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0491&lon=-86.9700&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 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8668
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92LA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8668/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA186

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR WAS HIS GEOGRAPHICAL DISORIENTATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence post

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT PLANNED A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH A SCHEDULED FUEL STOP AT THE SECOND EN ROUTE DESTINATION. AT THE SECOND CITY HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT AND DECIDED TO FOLLOW THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BACK TO NASHVILLE, TN, HIS DEPARTURE CITY. AS HE NEARED NASHVILLE, HE BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT FUEL AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO AN AIRPORT. PRIOR TO REACHING THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT BECAUSE OF FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE TACHOMETER INDICATED AN ELAPSED FLIGHT OF 3.8 HOURS, WHILE THE STUDENT'S FLIGHT PLANNING LOG DEPICTED 3.6 HOURS REQUIRED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7764U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7764U-1994-07-14), registration cancelled 1994-07-14, S/N 15077836 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15077836
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Air Academy
- Registered owner: Brewer, Lloyd A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: MQY, SMYRNA, TN
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 51 total, 51 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BNA, 10 nm away

## 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 19920929039269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920929039269A), Sep 29, 1992: Cessna 150M, Nashville, TN, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on solo crosscountry. Struck a pole on landing. Unable locate fuel stop continued to fuel exhaustion

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.