# NTSB CEN13CA343: Cessna 150G, N3718J, Franklin, OH, June 10, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2013, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Franklin, OH - Coordinates: 39.549743, -84.300888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5497&lon=-84.3009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87174 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA343 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87174/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87174 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA343 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02040000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he checked the airplane’s fuel tanks and estimated that each tank was about a quarter full, or about 6 gallons of fuel total. He then added 3 gallons of fuel to each tank. The flight instructor reported that he did not check the fuel tanks after refueling, but the student stated that they had two hours of fuel on board. The flight then departed and conducted practice maneuvers for about an hour. After completing a maneuver, the engine started to sputter and then lost power. The instructor conducted a forced landing in a field. Examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and the nosewheel collapsed during the landing. Examination of the fuel tanks and lines found only residual fuel. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that he checked the airplane’s fuel tanks and estimated that each tank was about a quarter full, or about 6 gallons of fuel total. He then added 3 gallons of fuel to each tank. The flight instructor reported that he did not check the fuel tanks after refueling, but the student stated that they had two hours of fuel on board. The flight then departed and conducted practice maneuvers for about an hour. After completing a maneuver, the engine started to sputter and then lost power. The instructor conducted a forced landing in a field. Examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and the nose wheel collapsed during the landing. Examination of the fuel tanks and lines found only residual fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3718J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3718J), registered now, S/N 15065018, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15065018 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Stewarts Aircraft Service Inc - Registered owner: Stewarts Aircraft Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 40I, Waynesville, OH - Destination: Franklin, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 53; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2012; seat: right; flight hours: 12,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KMGY, 8 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 20130610009249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130610009249A), Jun 10, 2013: Cessna 150G, Franklin, OH, Substantial damage. During student practice of steep spirals the engine quit and a forced landing was made in a field. The nosegear collapsed and there were no injuries. There was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87174. 544 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 269 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Student Statement (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Statement-Master.PDF - Correspondence (FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396859&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20(FAA)-Master.PDF 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.