CEN11LA188

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150G · Springdale, AR · February 12, 2011

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 12, 2011, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
Springdale, AR
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N3257JCessna 150G
Defining event
Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 13, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20110212002889A
Case key
78352

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Findings · 3

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Fluids: fuelAircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid managementCessna 150G: 9 casesAll aircraft: 1,695 casesProbable cause
Engine (reciprocating)Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · FailureCessna 150G: 2 casesAll aircraft: 497 casesProbable cause
Action: lack of actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotCessna 150G: 4 casesAll aircraft: 792 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

While on final approach to the destination airport, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose low attitude and came to rest adjacent to a fence, several hundred yards short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage. During the recovery of the airplane a total of 1.75 gallons of fuel was recovered from both wing fuel tanks. The fuel tanks had not been compromised and had an unusable fuel total of 3 gallons. The commercial pilot reported to law enforcement personnel that they had not refueled prior to the return flight.

Factual narrative

On February 12, 2011, approximately 1700 central standard time, a Cessna 150G airplane, N3257J, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Springdale Municipal Airport (KASG), Springdale, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The commercial pilot and private pilot sustained minor injuries. The cross-country flight had departed Hot Springs, Arkansas, and was en route to KASG. According to the accident report form submitted by the commercial pilot, he and the private pilot were returning to KASG after spending the day in Hot Springs. While on final to runway 18, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose low attitude and came to rest adjacent to a fence, several hundred yards short of the runway. The fuselage was bent downward just forward of the empennage. During the recovery of the airplane, a total of 1.75 gallons of fuel was recovered from both wing fuel tanks. The fuel tanks had not been compromised. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that this airplane had an unusable fuel total of 3 gallons. The commercial pilot reported to law enforcement personnel that they had not refueled prior to their return flight. According to the commercial pilot, he was not acting in the capacity of a flight instructor, nor was he acting as pilot in command. He was occupying the right seat. According to an affidavit submitted by the private pilot, he was not acting as pilot in command. The commercial pilot reported the private pilot was occupying the left seat and was flying at the time of the accident. Local law enforcement reported that the commercial pilot had consumed several beers prior to the flight and smelled of alcohol.

Aircraft

Registration
N3257J
Reported as
Cessna 150G
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15065957
Airframe hours
5,567.7
Engine
Cont Motor 0-200 SERIES, 100 horsepower
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 8, 2010
Departed
Hot Springs, AR
Destination
KASG · Springdale, AR
Airport
KASG · Springdale Municipal Airport

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
46
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Right

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
48 °F, dew point 25 °F
Altimeter
30.23 inHg
Observed at
KASG, 1 nm away

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N3257J · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.