# NTSB CHI03LA049: Cessna 150J, N60834, Garner, IA, January 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 8, 2003, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Garner, IA - Coordinates: 43.114444, -93.594444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1144&lon=-93.5944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA- Des Moines, Iowa FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56316 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56316/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56316 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA049 ## Probable cause The students pilots improper in-flight fuel planning resulting in exhaustion of the fuel supply, and the collapse of the nose gear during the forced landing. Factors were unsuitable landing are encountered by the pilot, the plowed field and the fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose gear collapsed, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over during a forced landing to a plowed field. The pilot reported the engine had stopped due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot stated that he could have watched his fuel consumption better. ## Factual narrative On January 8, 2003, at 1230 central standard time, a Cessna 150J, N60834, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, near Garner, Iowa, following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over during the landing attempt. The student pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed from Fairfield Municipal Airport (FFL), Fairfield, Iowa about 0730. The pilot reported being low on fuel "at his point of crossing [near] Mason City, Iowa." The pilot recalled looking for a grass airfield outside of Mason City's airspace, but noted that he couldn't locate one. The pilot reported that the engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot further reported he stalled the aircraft about 300 feet above the ground while on downwind for a roadway landing. The pilot reported that he recovered from the stall and touched down "as lightly as possible" on a plowed field. The airplane's nose landing gear impacted the terrain and collapsed. The airplane subsequently nosed over. The pilot reported that he could have watched his fuel consumption better. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with regard to the airplane, engine, or related systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60834](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60834-2013-08-14), registration cancelled 2013-08-14, S/N 15070609, 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: 15070609 - Airframe hours: 4400 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2001, 300 hours before - Departed: FFL, Fairfield, IA - Destination: SBU, Blue Earth, MN - Airport: N/A ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 13 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 23 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg - Observed at: MCW ## 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 20030108000619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030108000619A), Jan 8, 2003: Cessna 150J, Garner, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reportedly departed fairfield, Iowa, after refueling and was looking for a private grass strip near britt, Iowa, when his aircraft ran out of fuel.… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56316. 386 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.