# NTSB CHI96LA271: Cessna 150, N3238X, Wisconsin Rapid, WI, August 2, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 1996, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Wisconsin Rapid, WI - Coordinates: 44.340629, -89.72998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3406&lon=-89.7300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 23, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10339/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA271 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion, due to the pilot's improper planning/decision and inadequate fuel management. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis Following a total loss of engine power, the pilot executed an off airport landing. During the landing, the airplane hit a dead furrow and flipped over. The pilot reported that after the total loss of engine power, the fuel gauges indicated empty. Two quarts of fuel were found in the airplane following the accident. No signs of any fuel leaks were found. The total flight time was approximately 3.4 hours at the time of the loss of power. The pilot reported the airplane used 6.2 gallons per hour during normal flight operations. The airplane's usable fuel amount is 22.5 gallons. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 1996, at 1300 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 150, N3238X, sustained substantial damage during an off airport landing, near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, following a total loss of engine power. The airplane was en route to the Stevens Point Airport, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, at the time of the accident. The pilot's final destination was Appleton, Wisconsin. The private pilot was uninjured in the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported during a telephone interview that the flight originated in Paynesville, Minnesota, and that he stopped in Litchfield, Minnesota for fuel. The pilot remember being on the ground approximately 45 minutes before departing Litchfield. The airport fuel log indicated that the airplane was fueled at 0720 cdt. After fueling in Litchfield, the pilot reported that he flew the airplane to Black River Falls, Wisconsin, where he stopped for lunch. The pilot said he was meeting friends for lunch, and believed the arrival time was approximately 1110 cdt. The pilot reported that approximately fifteen minutes after takeoff from Black River Falls, during cruise flight at 3,000 feet above mean sea level (msl), the engine sustained a partial loss of power. The pilot reported that after applying carburetor heat, the engine regained power. The pilot said after the initial loss of power, he checked the fuel gauges, and they were indicating the fuel tanks were empty. The pilot reported that approximately five minutes later the engine sustained a total loss of power. The pilot reported that there was a clear area below, and he set the airplane up for an emergency landing. The pilot reported that approximately 100 feet after the airplane touched down in the clear area, the nose wheel of the airplane contacted a dead farrow, which broke the nose gear. The pilot reported that the airplane then dropped on its nose, and flipped over. The pilot said that the total hour meter time since departure from Litchfield showed 2.9 hours, at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that airplane used 6.2 gallons per hour during normal flight operations. When the hour meter was connected to a battery following the accident, no abnormalities were noted. A review of the aircraft following the accident, by a Federal Aviation Administration principal maintenance inspector revealed the following. Two quarts of fuel were found in the aircraft when the fuel tanks were drained. A trace of fuel was found in the airplanes gascalator. No fuel stains were found behind the fuel caps, behind the gascolator, near the wing quick drains, or in the grass around the airplane. The airplane's engine produced 2200 RPM static, when test run following the accident. The carburetor was removed and disassembled, with no discrepancies noted. The airplane's nose gear was collapsed, the left wing was bent. The vertical fin and rudder were crushed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3238X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3238X), registered now, S/N 15064638, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064638 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Philip Bailey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1996 - Departed: BCK, BLACK R FALLS, WI - Destination: STE, STEVENS POINT, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 350 total, 75 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ISW ## 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 19960802020729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960802020729A), Aug 2, 1996: Cessna 150G, Wisconsin Rapid, WI, Substantial damage. Engine quit and pilot attempted emergency landing on cropduster runway, struck a dead furrow and flipped over. (.4)following a total loss of engine power, the… 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.