# NTSB CHI94LA070: Cessna 150L, N10449, Waubay, SD, January 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 23, 1994, 13:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Waubay, SD - Coordinates: 45.329059, -97.300239 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3291&lon=-97.3002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9457 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9457/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA070 ## Probable cause the pilot-in-command's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident is the false indications on the fuel gauges. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED HE DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH ABOUT 13 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE. AFTER 1.8 HOURS OF FLIGHT (PER HOBBS METER RECORDS) THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER, THEN QUIT. RESTART ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A SNOW COVERED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN IN DEEP SNOW DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT REPORTED THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES READ 1/2 AND 1/4 FULL (RIGHT AND LEFT, RESPECTIVELY) WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT ATTENTIVE ENOUGH TO THE FLIGHT TIME/FUEL STATUS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES A FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE OF ABOUT 5.8 GALLONS PER HOUR AT 75% POWER. ## Factual narrative On January 23, 1994, at 1320 central standard time, a Cessna 150L, N10449, operated as a rental/instructional airplane by Miller Aviation, Inc. of Brookings, South Dakota, sustained substantial damage when it nosed down during a forced landing in a snow covered field near Waubay, South Dakota. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Brookings, South Dakota, approximately 1115. Both the pilot and airplane owner/operator indicated the pilot was informed the airplane was just flown, and the fuel tanks were estimated to be about "1/2 full." The pilot reported he observed fuel tanks approximately half full (about 13 gallons) during his preflight inspection of the airplane. The pilot and passenger departed without taking on additional fuel. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported he departed on the local flight and decided to make a brief stop at Ortonville, Minnesota, approximately 65 nautical miles north-northeast of Brookings. He estimated he and the passenger spent about 20 minutes on the ground at Ortonville. They departed to the west to fly over some property in the vicinity of Waubay, South Dakota before returning to Brookings. The pilot stated they were in cruise flight about 4,200 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) when the engine began to "...sputter and cough," then quit. Restart attempts were unsuccessful, so the pilot made a MAYDAY transmission and performed a forced landing in a snow covered field. He stated the aircraft touched down on the main wheels in 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 feet of snow. The pilot reported "...the aircraft rolled about 20 to 25 feet and then sank so far into the...snow that the nose gear...collapsed." The pilot stated he and the passenger both looked at the fuel quantity gages before they exited the airplane. He reported the right fuel quantity gage indicated 1/2 tank, and the left fuel quantity gage indicated 1/4 tank of fuel. He stated he placed too much stock in the airplane owner's comment that he should have enough fuel for his intended local flight. He also indicated the incorrect indication on the fuel quantity gages misled him, and he was not attentive enough to the flight time/fuel status. The airplane was equipped with standard fuel tanks with 26 gallon capacity, of which 22.5 gallons is considered useable. Postaccident examination of the fuel tanks revealed no evidence of useable fuel. Records indicate the departure Hobbs meter reading was 360.0 hours. The Hobbs meter reading at the time of the accident was 361.8 hours. The airplane owner's manual indicates a standard (75% power) cruise fuel consumption rate of about 5.8 gallons per hour. This rate does not make allowances for increased consumption during takeoff and climb. Excerpts from the owner's manual are appended. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10449](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10449-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 15074863, 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: 15074863 - Airframe hours: 2680 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Miller Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Miller Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 31, 1993, 50 hours before - Departed: BKX, BROOKINGS, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 188 total, 172 in this make and model, 152 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F ## 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 19940123004269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940123004269A), Jan 23, 1994: Cessna 150L, Waubay, SD, Substantial damage. Engine quit en route. Landed in three foot deep snow. Collapsed nose gear. Fuel gauges reported inaccurate. 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.