# NTSB CHI90LA061: Cessna 150L, N6763G, Traverse City, MI, January 7, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 7, 1990, 13:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place: Traverse City, MI
- Coordinates: 44.76091, -85.699737 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7609&lon=-85.6997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14617
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14617/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA061

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - snow covered

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES SOUTH OF HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED ONCE, THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. WHEN ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED, HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A SNOW-COVERED FIELD. DURING POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, INVESTIGATORS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL ON BOARD. INVESTIGATORS DRAINED THE FUEL SYSTEM, OBTAINING A TOTAL OF 1.5 GALLONS OF FUEL (ONE GALLON FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK, AND 1/2 GALLON FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK). THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERED THE LAST 1.75 GALLONS IN EACH FUEL TANK TO BE UNUSABLE FUEL. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES OR AT THE CARBURETOR; THE FUEL TANKS/SYSTEM WAS NOT COMPROMISED DURING THE GROUND IMPACT SEQUENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6763G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6763G), registered now, S/N 15072263 (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: 15072263
- Airframe hours: 3200
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Romeo Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Romeo Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 2, 1989, 55 hours before
- Departed: D98, ROMEO, MI
- Destination: TVC, TRAVERSE CITY, MI
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TVC, 5 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 19900107000169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900107000169A), Jan 7, 1990: Cessna 150L, Traverse City, MI, Substantial damage. Student pilot on solo crosscountry ran his aircraft out of fuel near destination. Crash landed in snowy field.

## Other investigations on N6763G (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 BFO88LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88LA027), Mar 21, 1988: Cessna 150L (N6763G), Fairmont, WV, substantial damage

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.

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