# NTSB ATL95LA136: Cessna 150F, N8085F, Russellville, AL, July 15, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1995, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Russellville, AL
- Coordinates: 34.499477, -87.720886 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4995&lon=-87.7209&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3596
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3596/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA136

## Probable cause

THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY PLAN ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS THE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE CONDUCTING A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE STUDENT PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED. HE ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH FLIGHT SERVICE, AND REPORTED THAT HE HAD LESS THAN ONE FOURTH OF A TANK OF FUEL. FOUR MINUTES AFTER ESTABLISHING RADIO CONTACT, THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD QUIT. HE THEN SELECTED A FIELD AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL AFTER IT COLLIDED WITH A BERM. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT'S FLIGHT LOG, HE FLEW FIVE HOURS WITHOUT AN EN ROUTE REFUELING STOP. THE NORMAL FUEL ENDURANCE FOR THIS AIRPLANE IS APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS.

## Factual narrative

On July 15, 1995, at 1145 central daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N8085F, collided with a berm during rollout following a forced landing near Russellville, Alabama. The solo cross country flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with a flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed Lafayette, Georgia, at 0745 eastern daylight time.

According to the student pilot, he became disoriented during the solo cross country flight. The pilot requested directional finding assistance from a local airport control tower; during the directional finding process, the airplane ran out of fuel, and the engine quit. The student selected a nearby open field for an emergency landing. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a berm and nosed over.

According to the student pilot's flight log, he had flown five hours without a planned enroute fuel stop. The Cessna 150 has an approximate fuel endurance of four hours. No mechanical problems were reported with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8085F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15064185
- Airframe hours: 1949
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pigeon Mountain Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1995
- Departed: 9A5, LAFAYETTE, GA
- Destination: MSL, MUSCLE SHOALS, AL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSL, 18 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 19950715018729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950715018729A), Jul 15, 1995: Cessna 150F, Russellville, AL, Substantial damage. Became disoriented on cross country flight. Ran out of fuel. Nosed over in a field. Flown max range. No fuel stop.

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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