# NTSB CEN22LA355: Cessna 150, N6212Y, Marshall, TX, July 30, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 30, 2022, 14:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Marshall, TX - Coordinates: 32.5178, -94.413831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5178&lon=-94.4138&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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105650 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA355 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105650/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105650 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA355 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadequate fuel planning and improper in-flight decision-making which resulted in a total 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 150E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071812), [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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 150E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150E, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While en route to his home airport, the student pilot reported that the engine rpm momentarily decreased. When the engine rpm decreased a second time, he reported to air traffic control that he had engine issues. The student pilot applied carburetor heat, and engine power was restored, but shortly thereafter the engine lost total power. Unable to reach the destination airport, the student pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane collided with trees and a fence line, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed both the left and right fuel tanks were empty when checked with a dipstick and no fuel came out when either tank was sumped. About 7 ounces of fuel was sumped from the fuel strainer and an additional empty water bottle of fuel was drained from the bottom of the engine after the airplane was recovered. After the accident the engine started and ran for about 10 minutes before it quit. Fuel range and endurance calculations were performed using automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and the student pilot’s statements. The student pilot had fully fueled the airplane on the morning of the accident and departed to another airport to meet with a flight instructor for several flights. The total flight time was calculated to be about 4 hours. The student reported using a full rich mixture setting during the flight and estimated the airplane consumed about 6 gallons per hour. The total fuel capacity of the airplane was 26 gallons of which 22.5 gallons were listed as being usable. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with fuel exhaustion. The fact that the engine started and ran on residual fuel in the fuel system is evidence that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation of the engine during the flight. ## Factual narrative On July 30, 2022, about 1450 central daylight time, a Cessna 150E airplane, N6212Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Marshall, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. The student pilot reported that while en route to his home airport, the engine rpm momentarily decreased. When the engine rpm decreased a second time, he reported to air traffic control that he had engine issues. The student pilot pulled carburetor heat and engine power was restored, but shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power. Unable to make it to the destination airport, the student pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing rollout the airplane collided with trees and a fence line, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Examination of the airframe by a responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector found both the left and right fuel tanks were empty when checked with a dipstick and no fuel came out when either tank was sumped. About 7 ounces of fuel was sumped from the fuel strainer. The student pilot reported that after the airplane was moved to a hangar, he was able to drain an additional empty water bottle of fuel from the bottom of the engine. He also reported that he started the engine and that it ran for about 10 minutes before it quit. Fuel range and endurance calculations were performed using ADS-B data and the student pilot’s statements. He had fully fueled the airplane the morning of the accident and departed to another airport to meet with an instructor. The student and instructor performed several takeoffs and landings and airwork. The instructor then flew the airplane solo for several takeoffs and landings. The student pilot was signed off for a solo flight and the accident occurred on the student pilot’s return leg to his home airport. The total flight time since fueling the airplane was calculated to be about 4 hours. The student reported using full rich for the mixture during flight and estimated the airplane consumed about 6 gallons per hour. The total fuel capacity of the airplane was 26 gallons, of which 22.5 gallons were listed as being usable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6212Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6212Y), registered now, S/N 15061390 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (E) - Registry model: [Cessna 150E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150e) (registry code 2071812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15061390 - Year built: 1965 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KTRL, Terrell, TX - Destination: KASL, Marshall, TX - Airport: ASL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KASL, 5 nm away - METAR: METAR KASL 302015Z AUTO 21009G14KT 10SM SCT060 36/19 A3003 RMK AO1 T03570193= ## 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 20220730013629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220730013629A), Jul 30, 2022: Cessna 150E, Marshall, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot stated he had departed kasl earlier in the day with full fuel and flew solo from kasl to ktrl. He then conducted a local flight with a flight… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105650. 2.2 MB in all. - Record of conversation FAA (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16088022&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16087676&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos%203-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.