# NTSB CHI97LA281: Cessna 150M, N704TL, Benton, KS, August 28, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1997, 19:45 local (Aug 28, 1997, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Benton, KS - Coordinates: 37.780002, -97.099479 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7800&lon=-97.0995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10692 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10692/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA281 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's (CFI') improper in-flight planning/decision, which led to fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power before the airplane was safely landed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - instructions,written/verbal - not understood, dual student - touch-and-go - performed, dual student - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis The flight instructor (CFI) said that he had planned for a 1 hour and 30 minute flight with a 30 minute fuel reserve. He and the student took off, went east of the airport to practice training maneuvers, then returned to the airport to do traffic pattern work. He said they were approaching their 30 minute reserve and he determined the next landing would be a full stop. The student misunderstood the instructions and attempted a touch-and-go. The student came in high and fast, touching down momentarily around mid-field. The CFI allowed the student to perform a go-around, believing that he had enough reserve fuel to do one more pattern. 'On climbout the engine quit.' The CFI turned the airplane back toward the runway and made a forced landing in a field. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies with the airplane. Approximately 2 gallons of fuel were drained from the airplane's fuel tanks. The Pilot's Operating Handbook for the airplane stated that 3.5 gallons of the 26 gallon total fuel capacity were unusable. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1997, at 1945 central daylight time (cdt), a Cessna 150M, N704TL, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when on takeoff the airplane's engine lost power. During the subsequent forced landing attempt, the airplane impacted the terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. Neither the instructor pilot or the dual student reported any injuries. The flight originated at Benton, Kansas, at 1815 cdt. In his written statement, the instructor said that he had planned for an hour and 30 minute flight with a 30 minute fuel reserve. The instructor and student took off, went out east of the airport to do practice training maneuvers, and then returned to the airport to do some traffic pattern work. "We were approaching our 30 minute reserve and I determined the next landing would be a full stop. The student misunderstood my instructions and was attempting a touch-and-go. The student came in high and fast, touching down momentarily around mid-field. Rather than attempt a full stop, I allowed the student to go around." The instructor said that he believed he had enough reserve fuel to do one more pattern. "On climbout the engine quit. I assumed control of the aircraft. The pilot instructor turned the airplane back toward the runway and touched down in a field "a few hundred feet west of the departure end of the active runway." A witness, who saw the airplane take off from the airport, said that he heard "the engine of the airplane sputtering. At that time, the airplane was about 15 feet above the ground. The engine came alive for another 10 to 20 seconds before it quit totally. After that, the pilot tried to turn back to the airfield. I saw the airplane gliding down till it was finally hidden by a row of trees." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the wreckage found the airplane in a field next to the Benton, Kansas airport, approximately one-quarter mile from the end of the runway. The outboard one-third of airplane's left wing was bent upward approximately 45 degrees. The right wing was bent back. The outer 2 feet of the right wing was crushed inward and bent up. The left horizontal stabilizer showed heavy skin wrinkles. The nose wheel was broken off. The propeller showed no rotational scratching or torsional bending. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found in the engine, engine controls, or other airplane systems. Approximately 2 gallons of fuel were drained from the airplane's fuel tanks. The Cessna 150M Pilot's Operating Handbook states that 3.5 gallons of the 26 gallon total fuel capacity is unusable in airplanes configured with the two standard 13 gallon fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N704TL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704TL-1998-01-07), registration cancelled 1998-01-07, S/N 15078860 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078860 - Airframe hours: 7481 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward A. Heim - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 26, 1997, 3 hours before - Departed: 1K1 - Airport: 1K1, Benton, runway 16, 2,613 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 714 total, 96 in this make and model, 528 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ICT, 17 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 19970827040879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970827040879A), Aug 27, 1997: Cessna 150M, Benton, KS, Substantial damage. Exhausted fuel on takeoff. CFI tried turnback but stalled. Impacted off end runway. ## Other investigations on N704TL (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 MKC81FCQ16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FCQ16), Mar 11, 1981: Cessna 150 (N704TL), Wichita, KS, 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. --- 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.