# NTSB CEN16LA004: Cessna 150, N3174J, Dexter, MO, October 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 5, 2015, 04:30 local (09:30 UTC) - Place: Dexter, MO - Coordinates: 36.766666, -89.967224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7667&lon=-89.9672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA St Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92118 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92118/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92118 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's impairment due to the ingestion of alcohol, which impaired his decision-making and resulted in his taking off and flying the airplane until the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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) (defining event); 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) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was flying the airplane on a local night flight; the airplane was subsequently located in a heavily wooded area, and it had impacted trees, brush, and terrain and come to rest upright. The pilot reported that he had no recollection of the accident. The pilot did recall waking up inside the airplane after the accident and that it was dark outside and that the weather was not an issue. An examination of the airplane revealed that there was no fuel in either wing fuel tank, and no evidence of fuel was found around the accident site. Examination of the airplane, engine, and systems revealed no evidence of any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Analysis of the pilot's blood and urine samples revealed that he had a blood alcohol level of 0.075% 3 hours after the accident. Based on the elimination rate of alcohol from the system, his blood alcohol level would have been between about 0.11% and 0.13% at the time of the accident, which would have impaired his decision-making abilities and psychomotor performance. Marijuana was detected in urine; however, confirmation testing was not performed, so the investigation was unable to determine if the pilot's use of marijuana before the flight enhanced his impairment or contributed to the accident. It is likely that alcohol ingestion impaired the pilot's decision-making abilities and led to his taking off and flying the airplane until the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On October 5, 2015, about 0430 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G, single-engine airplane, N3174J, impacted trees and terrain about two miles west from Dexter Municipal Airport (DXE), Dexter, Missouri. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual, as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that departed about 0400 from DXE.The pilot stated he had no recollection of the events prior to the accident. He recalled waking up inside the airplane after it impacted trees and brush. It was dark outside. The pilot added he was an early riser and guessed he intended to perform some night flying and see the sun rise. The pilot later told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he recalled leveling at 1,500 to 1,600 ft. and that he flew for about 30 minutes before his airplane fell "from the sky." He said weather was not an issue. The airplane impacted in a heavily wooded area and came to rest upright. Several large tree branches surrounded the airplane. The left wing tip was buckled aft and the right wing was bent upward about 20 degrees at the wing root. Both wings' leading edges were crushed aft. Both fuel tanks showed no fuel present. There was no evidence of fuel around the accident site. The forward and bottom fuselage, and engine cowling were crushed upward and broken aft. The propeller spinner showed a C-shaped dent in one side. One of the two propeller blades sustained minor damage and the other blade was bent aft near the blade tip. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the airplane's engine or systems. Toxicology testing by the (FAA) Civil Aeromedical Institute of specimens from the pilot revealed the following: 103 mg/dL, mg/hg Ethanol detected in urine. 30 mg/dL, mg/hg Ethanol detected in blood 1.784 ug/ml, ug/g Morphine detected in urine Tetrahydrocannabinol Carboxylic Acid (Marijuana) detected in urine The Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime laboratory analyzed a blood sample from the pilot three hours after the accident occurred. The test showed a blood alcohol of 0.075%. Hospital testing of a blood sample from the pilot about 5 hours after the accident showed a blood alcohol of 0.034%. Additionally, hospital urine drug screening was positive for cannabinoids, but confirmation testing was not performed. Per 14 CFR 91.17, no person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft while having 0.04% (0.040 g/dL) or more alcohol in the blood. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3174J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3174J-2019-02-23), registration cancelled 2019-02-23, S/N 15065874 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (G) - 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: 15065874 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 2412 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 2015, 2 hours before - Departed: DXE, DEXTER, MO - Destination: DXE, Dexter, MO - Airport: DXE, Dexter Muni - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; restraint: lap only; toxicology performed; flight hours: 400 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KPOF, 17 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 20151005017409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151005017409A), Oct 5, 2015: Cessna 150G, Dexter, MO, Substantial damage. After departing Dexter Municipal Airport, MO (dxe), the aircraft ran out of fuel approximately 1.5 miles southwest of the airport. The plane descended at a… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92118. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 727 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Map of Accident Location (item 3, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Accident%20Location-Master.PDF - Weather Summary (item 4, .PDF, 420 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 4 photos, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 6, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459189&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Medical Factual Report (item 7, .PDF, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Medical%20Factual%20Report-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.