- Date
- April 2, 2004, 03:00 local (10:00 UTC)
- Place
- Orem, UT
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N66758Cessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report September 29, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040402004859A
- Case key
- 59007
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. Contributing factors include the dark night light conditions, and the trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private pilot said that he "ran out of fuel." The pilot attempted a forced landing to an open field near the east shore of the lake. During the forced landing, the airplane's right wing struck several branches on the top of a 50-foot tree and the airplane subsequently struck the ground in a nose-down attitude. An examination of the airplane showed that both wing fuel tanks were intact. Approximately 2 cups of fuel was recovered from the tanks.
Factual narrative
On April 2, 2004, at approximately 0300 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150M, N66758, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during a forced landing to a field near Orem, Utah. The private pilot, and passenger sustained minor injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The flight to Provo, Utah, originated at Emmett, Idaho, at approximately 0010.
The pilot said that he "ran out of fuel," and was forced to make an emergency landing. Prior to the flight, the pilot purchased 22.8 gallons of fuel. During the flight to Provo, the engine "cut" as he was flying south over Utah Lake. The pilot attempted a forced landing to an open field near the east shore of the lake. During the forced landing, the airplane's right wing struck several branches on the top of a 50-foot tree near the edge of the field. The airplane spun to the right, approximately 180 degrees, and struck the ground in a nose-down attitude approximately 100 feet southeast of the tree.
According to Cessna's pilot operating handbook (POH), for a Cessna 150M with standard fuel tanks, the total fuel capacity is 26 gallons, and the total useable fuel is 22.5 gallons.
An examination of the airplane showed the airplane's engine separated from the firewall, the upper portion of the firewall crushed aft, the leading edges of both wings crushed aft, and a buckled aft fuselage. Further examination showed both fuel tanks were intact. On draining both wing tank sumps, approximately 2 cups of fuel was recovered.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66758
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15076255
- Airframe hours
- 8,961.6
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Rustin L. Pearce
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 7, 2004 · 13.4 hours before
- Departed
- S78 · Emmett, ID
- Destination
- PVU · Provo, UT
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- October 24, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 216 total · 208 in this make and model · 165 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 320° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 75 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KPVU, 5 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.
Other investigations on N66758 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.