# NTSB CHI98LA307: Cessna 150L, N5413Q, Philip, SD, August 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1998, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Philip, SD - Coordinates: 44.040447, -101.6604 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0404&lon=-101.6604&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA307 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43657/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA307 ## Probable cause the fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. A factor was the soft field. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - fuel system - exhaustion (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported he assumed the fuel tanks were topped off prior to takeoff. The lineman who fueled the airplane reported that the fuel tanks were filled three gallons short of their capacity. The pilot reported that he aborted the first takeoff for an inaccurate airspeed indicator. The pilot departed after the mechanical condition was fixed. The pilot reported that during the VFR approach to the destination airport, the engine 'coughed.' The pilot set the mixture to full rich and the throttle to full power, but the engine stopped. The engine restart was unsuccessful. He chose not to land on paved highways due to the automobile traffic, and landed in a freshly plowed field. The airplane nosed over during ground roll. The pilot reported that the flight was approximately 3.3 hours in duration. An examination of the airplane found the fuel tanks to be dry. The Hobbs meter indicated the airplane had operated a total of 3.9 hours during its flight. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 1998, at 1145 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Cessna 150L, N5413Q, operated by a private pilot, lost engine power while on approach to Philip Airport, Philip, South Dakota. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing in a field. The pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was on file. The solo flight departed Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana, at 0830 MDT with an intended destination of Philip Airport. The pilot reported that he had the lineman at Billings Logan International Airport top the fuel tanks off prior to takeoff. The pilot reported that he aborted the first takeoff at Billings for an inaccurate airspeed indicator. After the mechanical condition was fixed, the pilot departed Billings en route for Philip, South Dakota. The pilot reported that during the VFR approach to Philips the engine "coughed." The pilot set the mixture to full rich and the throttle to full power, but the engine stopped. The engine restart was unsuccessful. He chose not to land on paved highways due to the automobile traffic, and landed in a freshly plowed field. The airplane nosed over during ground roll. The pilot exited the airplane without injury. The pilot reported that the flight from Billings to Philip took approximately 3.3 hours duration. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and found the fuel tanks to be dry. The lineman who fueled the airplane reported that the fuel tanks were filled three gallons short of their capacity. The Hobbs meter indicated the airplane had operated a total of 3.9 hours during its flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5413Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5413Q-2001-02-06), registration cancelled 2001-02-06, S/N 15073313 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15073313 - Airframe hours: 7689 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward William Morrell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 1997, 35 hours before - Departed: BIL, BILLINGS, MT - Destination: PHP - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 136 total, 70 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PHP, 4 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 19980809020129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980809020129A), Aug 9, 1998: Cessna 150L, Philip, SD, Substantial damage. Acft made an emergency landing in a field. (.19) on August 9, 1998, a Cessna 150L, N5413Q, operated by a private pilot, lost engine power while on approach to… 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.