# NTSB ATL93LA165: Cessna 150, N1141Z, Sylvania, GA, September 30, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 30, 1993, 14:35 local (18:35 UTC)
- Place: Sylvania, GA
- Coordinates: 32.750728, -81.629043 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7507&lon=-81.6290&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 20, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3269
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3269/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA165

## Probable cause

WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION SHORT OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

AFTER FLYING 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES INTO THE PLANNED 4 HOUR TRAINING  FLIGHT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER; A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO AN OPEN CORN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE, TWO GALLONS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL, 3.5 GALLONS OF THE TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY ARE UNUSABLE. THE EXAMINATION ALSO FAILED TO REVEAL A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR COMPONENT FAILURE.

## Factual narrative

On September 30, 1993, at 1435 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N1141Z, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during a forced landing near Sylvania, Georgia. The student pilot was not injured in the accident. The aircraft operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight. The flight departed Winnsboro, South Carolina, and was destined for Sylvania, Georgia.

According to the pilot, the flight departed Winnsboro at 1100 hours with four hours of fuel on board. Approximately three and one half hours into the flight, and three miles north of the destination airport, the airplane lost engine power.  The pilot selected an open corn field and executed an emergency landing; during the final approach, the left wing struck the ground.

During the subsequent aircraft examination, two gallons of fuel were recovered from the fuel system. According to the flight manual for the Cessna 150, 3.5 gallons of the total fuel capacity are unusable. Additionally, the engine was functionally checked with the existing fuel quantity and aircraft systems. The wreckage examination failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1141Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 75400
- Airframe hours: 4527
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Hoffland, Eric
- Registered owner: Kaz-Air Inc.,
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 16, 1993, 86 hours before
- Departed: FDW, WINNSBORO, SC
- Airport: JYL, Plantation Airpark, runway 23, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 74 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAV, 30 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 19930930042409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930930042409A), Sep 30, 1993: Cessna 150, Sylvania, GA, Substantial damage. After 31/2HRS training flight engine lost power. Cartwheeled forced landing. Left wing struck ground. No fuel.

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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