# NTSB CHI07CA190: Cessna 150L, N11419, Salem, IL, June 28, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 28, 2007, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Salem, IL - Coordinates: 38.642776, -88.964164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6428&lon=-88.9642&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 66282 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66282/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA190 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion which resulted in a forced landing. Additional causes were the certified flight instructor's inadequate preflight supervision. Factors contributing to the accident were the disorientation encountered by the pilot, the deteriorating visibility, and the tree encountered on landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience, pilot in command - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, flight instructor(on ground) (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise. The student pilot stated that she had been practicing maneuvers during a local solo flight for approximately two hours and decided to return to the airport to land. While she was returning to the airport, she became disoriented and "lost [her] way." She stated that she was looking for any airport to land at, "because the visibility was deteriorating." The student pilot reported that the airplane was "getting low on fuel," and the engine "suddenly" shut off and started again. The student pilot decided to find suitable off airport terrain to land. She reported that she landed on a "grass strip" which was the only place that she could find to land, and the airplane subsequently struck a tree and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot stated in her accident report that there was 11.5 gallons of fuel on board at the last takeoff. Examination of the airplane after the accident noted that about 15 total ounces of fuel were drained from the fuel strainer on the firewall, the right fuel tank, and the left fuel tank. ## Factual narrative The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise. The student pilot stated that she had been practicing maneuvers during a local solo flight for approximately two hours and decided to return to the airport to land. While she was returning to the airport, she became disoriented and "lost [her] way." She stated that that she was looking for any airport to land at, "because the visibility was deteriorating." The student pilot reported that the airplane was "getting low on fuel," and the engine "suddenly" shut off and started again. The student pilot decided to find suitable off airport terrain to land. She reported that she landed on a "grass strip" which was the only place that she could find to land, and the airplane subsequently struck a tree and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot stated in her accident report that there was 11.5 gallons of fuel on board at the last takeoff. Examination of the airplane after the accident noted that about 15 total ounces of fuel were drained from the fuel strainer on the firewall, the right fuel tank, and the left fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11419](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11419-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 15075406, 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: 15075406 - Airframe hours: 10608 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airgo Inc - Registered owner: Leslie Erb - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2007 - Departed: ENL, Centralia, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: SLO, 3 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 20070628018859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070628018859A), Jun 28, 2007: Cessna 150L, Salem, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) N11419, a CE-150 aircraft operated by a student pilot, was conducting a flight for the purpose of building flight time and experience. The student left… 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.