- 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.
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.