# NTSB CEN19LA186: Cessna 150, N5256Q, Omaha, NE, June 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 28, 2019, 04:00 local (09:00 UTC) - Place: Omaha, NE - Coordinates: 41.196109, -96.11222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1961&lon=-96.1122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99718 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA186 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99718/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99718 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA186 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was on final approach to land after a 3-hour flight when the airplane's engine would not respond to throttle inputs then lost power. He attempted to restart the engine; however, he could not restore engine power. The pilot executed a forced landing to a road and the airplane's right wing struck a fence, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that 2.5 to 3 gallons of fuel remained in the left fuel tank and the right tank was compromised during the accident. No anomalies were found with the airplane, engine, or fuel system that would have precluded normal operation. The cruise performance chart for the accident airplane model indicated that for a flight at 2,500 ft mean sea level, at 77% engine power should yield 3.9 hours of endurance. The pilot stated that he had topped off the fuel tanks at his departure airport and had flown about 3 hours at the time of the accident; however the airplane’s power setting and any potential headwinds are unknown. Based on the available information, it is likely that, with the low fuel level, when the pilot lowered the nose of the airplane during the approach, the fuel became unported and the engine lost power due to fuel starvation. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2019, about 0400 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N5256Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while on an approach to the Millard Airport (MLE), Omaha, Nebraska. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport (MML), Marshall, Minnesota, about 0100. The pilot reported that he was on final approach to land after a 3-hour flight when the airplane's engine would not respond to throttle inputs. He attempted to restart the engine, and the engine ran momentarily before it lost power again. A forced landing was executed to a road and the airplane's right wing struck a fence, which resulted in substantial damage. During a phone interview the pilot stated that the engine lost power as if it were starving for fuel. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that 2.5 to 3 gallons of fuel remained in the left fuel tank; the right tank was compromised during the accident. No anomalies were found with the airplane, engine, or fuel system that would preclude normal operation. The cruise performance chart for the accident airplane model indicated that a flight at 2,500 ft msl, at 77% engine power should yield 3.9 hours of endurance. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5256Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5256Q-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N 15073156, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 (L) - 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: 15073156 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 4631 - Engines: Continental O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 23, 2018 - Departed: MML, Marshall, MN - Destination: MLE, Omaha, NE - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: MLE, Millard Airport, runway 12, 3,801 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 350 total, 200 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KMLE, 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 20190628008269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190628008269A), Jun 28, 2019: Cessna 150L, Millard, NE, Substantial damage. During approach to land at kmle, aircraft engine lost power following the application of flaps and nosing over for the descent. Pilot was able to temporarily… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99718. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 504 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482960&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482961&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Maintenance Record Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 529 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482962&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Record%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Excerpt from Airplane Owner's Manual (item 4, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482963&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Airplane%20Owner%27s%20Manual-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage - NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482964&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15%20-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.