# NTSB CHI99LA081: Cessna 150M, N704BF, Paxton, IL, February 3, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 3, 1999, 10:31 local (16:31 UTC) - Place: Paxton, IL - Coordinates: 40.450218, -88.0904 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4502&lon=-88.0904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45694 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45694/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA081 ## Probable cause the inadequate preflight planning by the pilot in command and the exhaustion of usable fuel. Factors were the tailwind landing condition and the rough terrain at the landing site. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after flying for 2.5 hours, he decided to land at an airport near Champaign, Illinois, and missed the airport due to the wind. The pilot stated that he then diverted to Paxton, Illinois, and after six attempts was unable to locate the airport. The pilot stated that the airplane ran out of fuel and he declared an emergency. An off airport landing was made into a plowed farm field 2.5 miles west of the Paxton Airport. The forced landing was made on a heading of 020 degrees. A weather report for a reporting station located 27 nautical miles and 190 degrees from the accident site reported winds from 180 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 26 knots. The left wing fuel tank contained no fuel and the right wing fuel tank contained less than one cupful of fuel. Examination of the airplane revealed no other anomalies. ## Factual narrative On February 3, 1999, at 1031 central standard time (cst), a Cessna 150M, N704BF, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Paxton, Illinois, after a loss of engine power during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated at Tevis Field, near Chanute, Kansas, at 0710 cst, and was en route to Detroit, Michigan. In his written statement, the pilot stated that after flying for 2.5 hours, he decided to land at an airport near Champaign, Illinois, and missed the airport due to the wind. The pilot stated that he then diverted to Paxton, Illinois, and after six attempts was unable to locate the airport. The pilot stated that the airplane ran out of fuel and he declared an emergency. An off airport landing was made into a plowed farm field 2.5 miles west of the Paxton airport. The pilot reported losing consciousness for an unknown amount of time following the accident. Post accident investigation showed substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The forced landing was made on a heading of 020 degrees. A weather report for a reporting station located 27 nautical miles and 190 degrees from the accident site reported winds from 180 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 26 knots. The left wing fuel tank contained no fuel and the right wing fuel tank contained less than one cupful of fuel. Examination of the airplane revealed no other anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N704BF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704BF-2002-01-11), registration cancelled 2002-01-11, S/N 15078476, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078476 - Airframe hours: 8036 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tevis Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 4, 1999, 30 hours before - Departed: 17KS, CHANUTE, KS - Destination: DETROIT, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 836 total, 58 in this make and model, 745 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 20 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CMI, 27 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 19990203018809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990203018809A), Feb 3, 1999: Cessna 150M, Paxton, IL, Substantial damage. (.19) On February 3, 1999, at 1031 central standard time, a Cessna 150M, N704BF, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced… 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.