# NTSB BFO91LA006: Cessna 150L, N18539, Lexington, KY, October 23, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 22, 1990, 23:56 local (Oct 23, 1990, 03:56 UTC)
- Place: Lexington, KY
- Coordinates: 38.069068, -84.580612 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0691&lon=-84.5806&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 23, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11638
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO91LA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11638/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO91LA006

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION CAUSING FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - other (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose down, landing

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS BEING FERRIED TO THE NEW OWNER WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE THIRD LEG OF A FLIGHT FROM HARTFORD, CT TO DALLAS, TX. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL WHEN HE TOOK OFF AT 2020 EDT. HE PROCEEDED EN ROUTE AT 4000 FT MSL AT A GROUNDSPEED OF ABOUT 96 KTS. THE PLT STATED THE FUEL MIXTURE WAS LEANED FOR THE FLIGHT. ABOUT 35 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION HE NOTICED ONE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE INDICATED NEAR EMPTY, AND THE SECOND GAGE INDICATED LESS THAN HALF-FULL. ABOUT 10 MILES OUT BOTH GAGES INDICATED NEAR EMPTY. SOON AFTERWARDS THE ENGINE LOST POWER, BUT HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE. HOWEVER THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD ABOUT A MILE NE OF LEX. ABOUT 4 OZS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING THE POST- ACCIDENT EXAMINATION. FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS INDICATE ABOUT 5 GALS OF FUEL SHOULD HAVE REMAINED WHEN THE POWER LOST OCCURRED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N18539](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18539-2012-08-01), registration cancelled 2012-08-01, S/N 15073927, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15073927
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 1 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Dalton L. Peck
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: AFJ, WASHINGTON, PA
- Destination: LEX
- Airport: LEX, Lexington-Bluegrass

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,994 total, 200 in this make and model, 1,742 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LEX, 1 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 19901022060059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901022060059A), Oct 22, 1990: Cessna 150L, Lexington, KY, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel nearing destination. Pilot went by AFM for fuel calculations. Fuel higher in average 150 then AFM.

## Other investigations on N18539 (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA95LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA007), Oct 21, 1994: Cessna 150L (N18539), Ormond Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING, RESULTING IN AN ON-GROUND LOSS OF CONTROL, AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

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.