CHI04CA143

The pilot performed a forced landing in a lake following fuel exhaustion. The pilot departed Jamestown, North Dakota, at 1800 with full fuel tanks. He stated he climbed to an altitude of 9,500 feet, but that the airplane began "acting funny" around 7,000 feet so he decided to land in Enderlin, North Dakota, at 1930. While on the ground the pilot determined the engine problem was a result of him not leaning the engine at the higher altitudes and he departed at 1930 with an intended destination of New Richmond, Wisconsin. The pilot stated he planned the flight for 3 hours 15 minutes, and that he figured he had 4 hours of fuel left on board. The pilot reported that while en route he decided to land in Osceola, Wisconsin, because it was getting late. He stated he then became "a little apprehensive about the fuel" so he decided to land in Forest Lake, Minnesota. The pilot reported the engine "abruptly quit" during the descent. He stated he attempted to restart the engine to no avail. He stated there was a populated area between his position and the airport, so he turned to land on the lake to avoid injuring anyone on the ground. The pilot stated the next thing he remembers was exiting the airplane after it contacted the water. The pilot swam to shore and flagged down a police car that was responding to the report of an airplane in the lake. The pilot reported to the police officer that he had run out of fuel. On the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that the pilot completed, he reported the accident could have been prevented "by fueling and/or not descending until over airport."

On June 6, 2004, at 2230 central daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N6620F, collided in Clear Lake during a forced landing following a loss of engine power in Forest Lake, Minnesota. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. A visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for an earlier leg of the cross country flight, but the pilot canceled it for the accident leg. The flight originated from the Jamestown Regional Airport (JMS), Jamestown, North Dakota, at 1800, with the second leg of the flight originating from the Sky Haven Airport (5N4), Enderlin, North Dakota, at 1930.

The pilot reported he departed JMS with full fuel tanks. He stated he climbed to an altitude of 9,500 feet, and the airplane began "acting funny" around 7,000 feet so he decided to land at 5N4. According to the pilot, he landed at 1930. While on the ground the pilot determined the engine problem was a result of him not leaning the engine at the higher altitudes. He stated he checked the engine and departed at 1930 for New Richmond, Wisconsin. The pilot stated he planned the flight for 3 hours 15 minutes and he figured he had 4 hours of fuel left on board.

The pilot reported that while en route he decided to land in Osceola, Wisconsin, because it was getting late. He stated he became "a little apprehensive about the fuel" so he decided to land at the Forest Lake Airport (25D) instead of at Osceola. The pilot reported that during the descent, the engine "abruptly" quit. He stated he attempted to restart the engine to no avail. He stated there was a populated area between his position and the airport, so he turned to land on the lake to avoid injuring anyone on the ground. He stated the next he remembers was exiting the airplane after it contacted the water. The pilot swam to shore and flagged down a police car that was responding to the report of an airplane in the lake. The pilot reported to the police officer that he had run out of fuel.

On the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 that was completed by the pilot, he reported the accident could have been avoided "by fueling and/or not descending until over airport."