# NTSB CEN21LA231: Cessna 150J, N5578G, Madison, AR, April 28, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 28, 2021, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Madison, AR - Coordinates: 34.978386, -90.723025 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9784&lon=-90.7230&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - LIT FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 103130 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103130/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103130 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA231 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel planning which led to fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power. ## 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 150J, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071820), [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 150J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071820), [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. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while the airplane was in cruise flight, the engine power reduced to idle. The pilot noted that the engine was still running but that he was unable to increase power above idle. He stated that the engine acted as if the throttle control was disconnected. The pilot made a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane’s nose landing gear sunk in the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed no usable fuel remaining in the wing fuel tanks, no fuel in the gascolator, and no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. The throttle control connection was checked; although the carburetor had broken loose from its mount due to impact, evidence indicated that the throttle control was functioning. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive for carburetor icing at glide power. However, a power loss during cruise flight and power that rapidly reduces to idle are not consistent with a loss of power due to carburetor icing. Given the available evidence for this investigation, the pilot failed to adequately plan the fuel for the flight which resulted in the airplane’s fuel supply to be exhausted, resulting in a total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2021, about 1230 central daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N5578G, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Madison, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, while the airplane was in cruise flight, the engine power reduced to idle. The pilot noted that the engine was still running, but he was unable increase power above idle. He stated that the engine acted as if the throttle control was disconnected. The pilot subsequently made a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane’s nose landing gear sunk in the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and the right wing. Examination of the accident site revealed no sheen of fuel on the water in the field and a “light” smell of fuel. The recovery crew that moved the airplane from the field reported that “only ounces” of fuel remained in the wing fuel tanks. After the airplane was moved, a subsequent examination was performed, which found no fuel in the gascolator. Also, the carburetor had broken loose from its mount, but the throttle cable remained attached to the carburetor, and movement of the throttle control caused movement of the carburetor butterfly. A weather observation for a nearby airport indicated that the temperature and dew point were 25°C and 20°C, respectively. According to the carburetor icing probability chart in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, these temperatures were in the range for serious icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5578G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5578G), registered now, S/N 15071078, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071078 - Year built: 1969 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: FCY, Forrest City, AR - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 82 total, 3 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: KUTA, 26 nm away - METAR: METAR KUTA 281735Z AUTO 19012KT 10SM SCT026 SCT034 25/20 A2999 RMK AO2 TSNO= ## 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 20210428003519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210428003519A), Apr 28, 2021: Cessna 150J, Forrest City, AR, Substantial damage. On a local flight pilot stated was flying straight/level flight at approximately 1000 AGL pilot reported engine problems. Made emergency landing in field… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103130. 1.6 MB in all. - Record of conversation with pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13812189&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20CONVERSATION-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 771 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13811937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statment%20and%20times_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum (FAA aircraft examination) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13812306&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Memo%20-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 505 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13812747&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Photo%20array%20template-Rel.pdf - FAA carburetor icing SAIB (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14464812&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20-%20FAA%20SAIB%20CE-09-35%20Carb%20Icing%20Prevention-Rel.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.