# NTSB ATL94LA141: Cessna 150K, N6074G, Vidalia, GA, July 16, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1994, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Vidalia, GA - Coordinates: 32.210849, -82.400894 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2108&lon=-82.4009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3419 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3419/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA141 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND ENGINE STOPPAGE. A FACTOR WERE THE TREES AT THE FORCED LANDING AREA. ## 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 - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH 4 HOURS OF FUEL ON BOARD, OR 24.5 USABLE GALLONS. DURING THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLIGHT, HE BECAME LOST, AND THE FLIGHT LASTED 2.5 HOURS (1.7 HOURS LONGER THAN PLANNED). HE DID NOT REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE RETURN FLIGHT, ESTIMATING THAT HE WOULD HAVE A FUEL RESERVE OF 38 MINUTES. ABOUT 10 MILES NORTH OF HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING THE FORCED LANDING. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. BATTERY POWER WAS APPLIED TO THE AIRCRAFT, AND BOTH FUEL GAUGES READ 'EMPTY'. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER, THE USABLE FUEL CAPACITY FOR THIS AIRCRAFT IS ONLY 22.5 GALLONS. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 1994, at 1330 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150K, N6074G, collided with trees and terrain during a forced landing near Vidalia, Georgia. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The private pilot and one passenger had minor injuries. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Skyways, Inc., of Vidalia. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight to Vidalia. The flight originated in Milledgeville, Georgia, at 1246. The pilot reported the following: During the flight to Milledgeville, he had become lost, and the duration of the flight was about 2.5 hours, or 1.7 hours longer than planned. While planning for the return flight, he estimated that the return leg would take about 46 minutes, leaving a fuel reserve of 38 minutes. He did not purchase fuel in Milledgeville. During the return flight to Vidalia, at about ten miles north of the airport, the engine lost power. Unable to maintain cruise power, he elected to force land the airplane in a nearby field. During the landing, he maneuvered the airplane to avoid power lines, and the airplane contacted trees, resulting in structural damage to the wings and empennage. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration visited the accident site and inspected the wreckage. He reported that the aircraft fuel system was empty of fuel, and not breached. He applied battery power to the aircraft, and the left and right fuel tank gauges read "empty". The pilot also reported that he had flown both flights with the fuel mixture control in the "full rich" position, with no leaning at any time. He estimated that he began the cross country flight with four hours of usable fuel on board (24.5 gallons). According to the aircraft manufacturer, the total fuel capacity (usable) for this airplane was 22.5 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6074G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6074G-1994-09-01), registration cancelled 1994-09-01, S/N 15071574 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150K - Registry model: [Cessna 150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (registry code 2071822) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071574 - Airframe hours: 4300 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Skyways, Inc. - Registered owner: Nobles, Aileen P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 1994, 9 hours before - Departed: MLJ, MILLEDGEVILLE, GA - Destination: VLD, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 263 total, 13 in this make and model, 212 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCN, 59 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 19940716018659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940716018659A), Jul 16, 1994: Cessna 150K, Vidalia, GA, Substantial damage. Became lost on cross country. Engine quit 10MI short of airport. Using wrong usable fuel and fuel burn. Crash landed 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.