# NTSB CHI03LA323: Cessna 150L, N21915, Siloam Springs, AR, September 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 2003, 22:00 local (Sep 28, 2003, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Siloam Springs, AR - Coordinates: 36.191944, -94.489997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1919&lon=-94.4900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58067 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA323 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58067/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA323 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate planning/decision resulting in fuel exhaustion. Factors were the trees and the night conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - light condition - night (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain following an in-flight loss of engine power during an approach to land. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An examination of the airplane revealed that the "engine stopped producing power as a result of fuel starvation." The airplane's owner stated that the pilot departed Fayetteville en route to Siloam Springs knowing he "had no more than 35 minutes fuel at night." The owner reported no mechanical malfunctions associated with the airplane on the flight. During an interview with the FAA, the pilot stated, "I ran out of gas." ## Factual narrative On September 27, 2003, about 2200 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N21915, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain following an in-flight loss of engine power during an approach to Smith Field Airport (SLG), near Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed from Fayetteville, Arkansas, at time unknown and was approaching to land at SLG at the time of the accident. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the wreckage on-site. The inspector found that the "engine stopped producing power as a result of fuel starvation." The pilot and airplane owner were each mailed an accident report to complete. In his report, the airplane's owner stated that the pilot departed Fayetteville en route to Siloam Springs knowing he "had no more than 35 minutes fuel at night." The owner reported no mechanical malfunctions associated with the airplane on the flight. During an interview with the FAA, the pilot stated, "I ran out of gas." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21915](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21915-2018-01-12), registration cancelled 2018-01-12, S/N 15074532, built 1973 (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: 15074532 - Engines: Continental O-200-A-48 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Plane Krazy Aviation - Registered owner: William G. Swink - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FYV, FAYETTEVILLE, AR - Destination: SLG, SILOAM SPRINGS, AR - Airport: SLG, Smith Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 800 total, 550 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: SLG ## 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 20030927027789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030927027789A), Sep 27, 2003: Cessna 150L, Siloam Springs, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 27, 2003, at approximately 2200 CDT, Cessna CE-150, N21915, experienced a power loss on landing approach to Siloam Springs, Arkansas airport… ## Other investigations on N21915 (1) 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 FTW98LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA147), Mar 13, 1998: Cessna 150L (N21915), Conway, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing and her improper recovery procedures for a bounced landing. 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.