# NTSB CHI02LA240: Cessna 150H, N6995S, Dyersville, IA, August 6, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2002, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Dyersville, IA - Coordinates: 42.479782, -91.109596 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4798&lon=-91.1096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55440/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA240 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. A related factor was the bean field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing into a bean field 3/4 mile west of the destination airport. The pilot reported departing on a local flight with approximately 10 gallons of usable fuel. The pilot flew a wide downwind and then a wide base leg to reduce extra speed and altitude. The engine lost power while the airplane was on a two mile final and approximately 500-1,000 feet above ground level. The total unusable fuel for the airplane is 3.5 gallons. Examination of the wreckage revealed approximately one quart of total fuel aboard. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2002, about 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N6995S, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a soybean field following a total loss of engine power. The flight was on a visual approach to Dyersville Area Airport (IA80), Dyersville, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight originated from IA80 reportedly at 1500. The pilot stated in a written statement that he noted the fuel level in the airplane was lower than he was comfortable flying with. The fuel level indicated 2-3 gallons of per tank when he checked it with a fuel dipstick. He obtained a five gallon fuel can, which was reportedly full, and put 2.5 gallons of fuel in each tank. He checked the fuel level in each tank using a fuel dipstick and noted that each tank contained approximately 5 gallons of usable fuel. His estimate of fuel burn for a Cessna 150 was 6 gallons per hour and figured that he had 1 hour and 40 minutes of fuel on board. After fueling, he strained fuel from beneath the airplane cowl for several seconds and noted no abnormalities in the fuel. The airplane was fueled with automotive fuel. The pilot stated that approximately 40 minutes after takeoff, he started a descent to IA80, and entered a wide left downwind for runway 13. He turned to a wide base for runway 13 because the airplane had some extra airspeed and altitude. He was unsure whether the flaps were extended to 20 degrees on base or final. The airplane was on a 2-mile final for runway 13 and approximately 500-1,000 feet above ground level when the engine "garbled and quit." The pilot then selected a field in which the off airport forced landing was made. The pilot, age 22, held a commercial pilot certificate with single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument ratings. He also held a certified ground instructor and a certified flight instructor certificate with single engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane ratings. He reported accumulating a total time of 1,065 hours, of which 5 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane. The airplane, serial number 15067695, was manufactured in 1967 with two standard fuel tanks having a total usable fuel capacity of 22.5 gallons. The total unusable fuel for a Cessna 150H is 3.5 gallons. Performance charts within the Cessna 150H Owner's Manual do not provide allowances for takeoff fuel consumption. The airplane was resting inverted approximately 3/4 statute miles west of IA80. The airplane was preceded by a 36 foot long ground scar and 89 feet of damaged soybean plants. The ground scar and damaged soybean plants were oriented on a magnetic heading of 230 degrees. Local law enforcement did not smell any fuel and did not note any evidence of fuel spillage. Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration found a total of approximately one quart of fuel in the fuel tanks. The examination did not find any evidence of fuel spillage. The tail was lowered to a 10-15 degree tail down attitude, and the engine was started after 5-8 propeller revolutions. The engine ran at idle for approximately one minute at which time the engine was shut down using the mixture control. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6995S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6995S), registered now, S/N 15067695, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15067695 - Airframe hours: 5626 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas Haas - Registered owner: Philip E. Deshaw - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2001, 191 hours before - Departed: IA80, Dyersville, IA - Airport: IA80, Dyersville Area Airport, runway 13, 2,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 23, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,065 total, 5 in this make and model, 964 as pilot in command, 158 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: DBQ, 22 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 20020806027669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020806027669A), Aug 6, 2002: Cessna 150H, Dyersville, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he was on approach to Dyersville airport. He had lowered the flaps to 20 degrees. When he turned on base, the engine sputtered and quit. The… 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.