CHI98LA185

The student pilot was conducting a round-robin cross country solo night flight with several airport destinations in his plan. He discussed his plan with his flight instructor prior to the initial departure. The instructor approved the plan without additional comment. The student became disoriented and fuel exhaustion occurred while he was attempting to reach an alternate destination airport with assistance from another pilot. The student said that he should have added fuel at one of the stops and also contacted his instructor. An examination of the airplane post accident revealed only unusable fuel remaining and no other mechanical anomalies.

On May 31, 1998, at 2318 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N714FB, experienced a loss of engine power while on descent to land at Newton-City County Airport, near Newton, Kansas. The airplane was substantially damaged when it hit trees during the subsequent forced landing, three-quarters of a mile north of the airport. The student pilot reported no injuries. The solo instructional flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was on file. The cross-country flight departed Wichita Mid-Continent Airport at 2100 with an intended destination of Blosser Municipal Airport, Concordia, Kansas.

The student pilot said that he departed Concordia with the intention of conducting a round-robin night flight from Concordia, to Hutchinson, to Salina, and return to Concordia. He said that the first leg went as expected; however, during the second leg he became disoriented and made a landing at Wichita (Mid-Continent Airport). He said on departure from Wichita, he flew a heading of 350 degrees' however, after about 20 to 30 minutes realized that his airplane was low on fuel. He said that he radioed for help on 121.5 MHz and was assisted by another pilot in an attempt to locate him and assist him in getting to an airport. He said he was attempting to reach Newton-City County Airport, near Newton, Kansas, when the engine lost power and he conducted a forced landing. During the landing approach, the airplane impacted trees and the terrain.

During an interview with the student pilot he said that he had one flight at night prior to the accident flight. He said that prior to the accident flight he prepared the pre-flight plan and his instructor checked it, but made no changes or additional comments. He said that he should have re-fueled the airplane while he was in Wichita and should have called his instructor, but did not do either.

A post accident examination of the airplane revealed only unusable fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. No other mechanical anomalies were noted during this inspection.