# NTSB BFO87LA055: Cessna 150L, N11872, Danville, VA, August 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 17, 1987, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Danville, VA
- Coordinates: 36.579875, -79.399421 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5799&lon=-79.3994&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 November 29, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11333
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11333/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87LA055

## 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
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fuel supply - misjudged, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - refueling - not performed
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL X-COUNTRY FLT FROM CHESAPEAKE, VA. TO SOUTH BOSTON, VA. TO ASHLAND, VA. WITH A RETURN TO CHESAPEAKE. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE STUDENT PLT PERFORMED THE ACFT PREFLT AND INFORMED THE CFI THAT THE ACFT WAS TOPPED OFF. UPON ARRIVAL AT SOUTH BOSTON (THE PLANNED FUEL STOP) IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT NO FUEL WAS AVAILABLE DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF LINE PERSONNEL. THE CFI DETERMINED ENOUGH FUEL REMAINED TO FLY TO DANVILLE, VA. (25 NM AWAY) AND REFUEL THERE. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED APRX 4 MILES FROM DANVILLE. THE ACFT STALLED AT AN ALT OF APRX 30 FT AGL AS THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR A ROW OF TREES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. POST ACCIDENT EXAM REVEALED 1 CUP OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE ACFT SYSTEM. INSPECTION OF REFUELING RECORDS SHOWED THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN 1.5 HOURS SINCE IT HAD BEEN REFUELED PRIOR TO THIS FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11872](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11872-1989-01-04), registration cancelled 1989-01-04, S/N 15075676 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15075676
- Airframe hours: 7338
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mid Eastern Airways, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 6, 1987
- Departed: W78, SOUTH BOSTON, VA
- Destination: DAN, DANVILLE, VA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,442 total, 1,030 in this make and model, 2,305 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19870817079839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870817079839A), Aug 17, 1987: Cessna 150L, Danville, VA, Substantial damage. Fuel exhaustion. Stalled on approach. Crash landed in field. Unable fuel at first stop. Ran out en route to another

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.