# NTSB CEN20LA092: Cessna 150, N714ER, Wadsworth, OH, February 15, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 15, 2020, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Wadsworth, OH - Coordinates: 41.003055, -81.756385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0031&lon=-81.7564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100964 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100964/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100964 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA092 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight 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. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was on approach to land the airplane when the engine lost power and the airplane landed short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the engine mount. After the accident, a mechanic drained 2 gallons of fuel from the fuel tanks, which would not have been usable in flight. The pilot estimated there had been 7 gallons of fuel in the fuel tanks before the half-hour flight, and there is no evidence that the airplane had been fueled before the accident flight. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Given the length of flight and the average fuel burn, the pilot didn’t ensure sufficient fuel was onboard before departure. ## Factual narrative On February 15, 2020, about 1300 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M airplane, N714ER, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power near Wadsworth, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported that while on approach to land on runway 20 at the Wadsworth Municipal Airport, Wadsworth, Ohio, the airplane's engine lost power. The airplane landed about 300 yards short of the runway. Substantial damage was sustained to an engine mount. The pilot visually checked the fuel tanks and estimated 7 gallons total prior to flight. The airplane flew 2 legs for slightly over an hour of flight time. Following the accident, a local mechanic drained approximately 2 gallons of fuel from the airplane. The airplane type certificate data sheet lists 3.5 gallons of fuel are unusable. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors were unable to find any evidence that the airplane had been fueled prior to the accident flight. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N714ER](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N714ER), registered now, S/N 15079124, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15079124 - Year built: 1976 - Engines: Continental O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: POV, Ravenna, OH - Destination: 3G3, Wadsworth, OH - Airport: 3G3, Wadsworth Muni, runway 20, 3,529 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,800 total, 56 in this make and model, 929 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KBJJ, 10 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 20200215004369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200215004369A), Feb 15, 2020: Cessna 150M, Wadsworth, OH, Substantial damage. 02/15/2020 Pilot flew from Wadsworth (3G3) to portage county airport (pov). Upon return to 3G3 the pilot stated he made one full stop landing and taxied back… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100964. 901 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 658 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484199&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation FAA Inspectors (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484200&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FAA%20Inspectors-Master.PDF - Flightaware Flight History (item 3, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flightaware%20Flight%20History-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.