# NTSB CEN25LA057: Cessna 150L, N5321Q, Meridian, MS, December 6, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 6, 2024, 13:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Meridian, MS - Coordinates: 32.301222, -88.755333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3012&lon=-88.7553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-IFR final approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 199410 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199410/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199410 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA057 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate verification of his student’s preflight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-IFR final approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR final approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach-IFR final approach: 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 and flight instructor were conducting an instructional cross-country flight when the airplane lost all engine power. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage during the forced landing into trees. Both wing fuel tanks remained intact, and no fuel was drained from either low point when sumped. The center fuselage drain point and firewall-mounted fuel strainers were actuated and produced about 1 tablespoon of fuel each. There were no observable indications of fuel leaking or fuel blight on nearby vegetation. The pilot reported that before the flight he fueled the airplane and estimated he had about 5 ½ hours of flight time. He stated that when planning for the cross-country flight he did not complete a detailed fuel burn calculation and that he did not use the pilot’s operating handbook to calculate fuel burn for the intended cruising altitude. The flight instructor stated that the pilot did not present a cross-country flight plan to him before the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5321Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5321Q-2026-10-03), registration cancelled 2026-10-03, S/N 15073221 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L - 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: 15073221 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 9579 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 29, 2024, 10 hours before - Departed: MEI, Meridian, MS - Destination: MEI, Meridian, MS - Airport: MEI, Key Field Airport - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 19, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 350 total, 300 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KMEI, 2 nm away - METAR: KMEI 061958Z 04008KT 10SM CLR 09/M11 A3037 RMK AO2 SLP284 I1000 T00941106 ## 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 20241206019169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241206019169A), Dec 6, 2024: Cessna 150L, Meridian, MS, Destroyed. On 12/9/2024 ASI was dispatched to the accident site. Evaluation determined aircraft sustained substantial damage and destroyed. Located and photographed the… ## Other investigations on N5321Q (2) 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. - [NTSB ANC91LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA095), Jul 7, 1991: Cessna 150L (N5321Q), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPERLY PERFORMED 100… - [NTSB FTW85LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA279), Jul 7, 1985: Cessna 150L (N5321Q), Killeen, TX, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199410. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18450977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 785 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18451748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18451055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18449919&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot-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.