CHI95LA136

The student pilot reported there was no one available to refuel his airplane before he departed on the return leg of his solo cross country flight. He stated his flight plan indicated he had enough fuel, but he planned to refuel as a precaution. The student pilot reported approximately 5 miles northeast of the destination airport, the airplane engine 'sputtered and quit.' He attempted a forced landing in a field, but stalled the airplane while trying to avoid colliding with powerlines. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Investigators drained about 1/2 gallon of fuel from each fuel tank.

On April 26, 1995, about 0615 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N3112J, piloted by a student pilot on a solo instructional flight, experienced a total loss of engine power approximately six miles northeast of the destination airport in Springfield, Missouri. The airplane sustained substantial damage in the resultant forced landing. The student pilot reported minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a VFR flight plan. The flight originated from Fulton, Missouri, about 0450.

The student pilot reported that he flew one leg of the solo cross country (from Springfield to Fulton) on April 25, and had prearranged to refuel at Fulton before returning to Springfield on the morning of April 26. He reported when he arrived at Fulton on the evening of April 25, there was no one present to refuel the airplane. The student pilot stated that his flight plan indicated he had enough fuel to complete the cross country trip. He indicated that his plan to refuel at Fulton was "...merely a precaution."

The student pilot reported when he preflighted the airplane the morning of the accident, he "...saw gas, impossible to tell exactly how much." He departed Fulton approximately 0450. The student pilot stated the flight to Springfield was normal. He contacted the Springfield Approach Controller when he was about 20 miles northeast of the destination airport. He stated when the airplane was about 5 miles northeast of the Springfield airport, the engine "...sputtered and died." The student pilot set up for a forced landing in an open field. He stated "...As I got close to the field...there were power lines...I waited until just before them and then pulled up, hoping to clear them before stalling...I cleared the power lines, but...stalled completely about 15 feet AGL (above ground level)... ."

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. The fuel tanks were drained. Observers measured about 1/2 gallon of fuel drained from each tank. The student pilot stated when the engine stopped he looked at the fuel quantity gauges, and they indicated 1/4 tank of fuel on the right side, and a little more than 1/4 tank of fuel on the left side. He indicated the left fuel quantity gauge on the accident airplane usually indicated lower than actual quantity. The student pilot's written recommendation as to how the accident could have been avoided stated: "Fix gas gauge." The student pilot indicated he had 27.7 hours total flight time, of which 12.8 hours were as pilot in command.