# NTSB CEN25LA121: Cessna 150J, N7486S, Greenville, MS, February 18, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 18, 2025, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, MS
- Coordinates: 33.39002, -91.041842 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3900&lon=-91.0418&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-holding (IFR): Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199858
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199858/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199858
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA121

## Probable cause

The pilots’ inadequate fuel planning and failure to monitor the fuel consumption which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent forced landing into wooded terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision during the instructional flight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [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)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (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-holding (IFR): 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)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that while conducting holding pattern training, the engine “stuttered” which was followed by a loss of engine RPM. The pilot receiving instruction pulled on the carburetor heat, and the engine did not regain power. The engine subsequently lost total power. Due to the lack of suitable terrain, the flight instructor then conducted a forced landing to wooded terrain. The airplane impacted trees and terrain resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel system was intact and contained no usable fuel.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7486S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7486S), registered now, S/N 15070358, 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: 15070358
- Year built: 1969
- Airframe hours: 4986
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Garage Doors Of Greenville LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 2024
- Airport: GLH, Greenville Mid Delta
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: lap only
- Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 229.2 total, 23.2 in this make and model, 229.2 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KGLH, 6 nm away
- METAR: METAR KGLH 182353Z 03013KT 10SM OVC060 05/01 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP198 T00500011 10072 20050 58009=

## 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 20250218002669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250218002669A), Feb 18, 2025: Cessna 150J, Greenville, MS, Substantial damage. Student pilot: February 18th was practicing VOR holds south of the Greenville airport. Aircraft engine Began to stutter; student pilot pulled carb heat on…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199858. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - pilot-under-instruction (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 323 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18832664&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA mor (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18833171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 927 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18959031&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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