- Date
- May 20, 2006, 21:20 local (May 21, 2006, 02:20 UTC)
- Place
- Ardmore, OK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N714BLCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report August 29, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20060520007159A
- Case key
- 63716
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 loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight planning.
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 79-hour private pilot was on a 697-nautical mile cross-country flight when he decided to stop for the night at an airport approximately 209 nautical miles from his point of departure. Upon landing at the airport the pilot discovered that all airport services were closed. The pilot then contacted the fixed base operator (FBO) at a nearby airport and elected to fly there and spend the night. While en-route to the airport the aircraft engine lost power and the pilot elected to execute a forced landing to a vacant field. The airplane collided with trees during the forced landing. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) the pilot reported he departed the airport with 3 gallons of fuel on-board and the intended destination was approximately 11 miles away. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident scene, examined the airplane and found no fuel in the fuel system.
Factual narrative
The 79-hour private pilot was on 697-nautical mile cross-country flight when he decided to stop for the night at an airport approximately 209 nautical miles from his point of departure. Upon landing at the airport the pilot discovered that all airport services were closed. The pilot then contacted the fixed base operator (FBO) at a nearby airport and elected to fly there and spend the night. While enroute to the airport the aircraft engine lost power and the pilot elected to execute a forced landing to a vacant field. The airplane collided with trees during the forced landing. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) the pilot reported he departed the airport with 3 gallons of fuel on-board and the intended destination was approximately 11 miles away. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident scene, examined the airplane and found no fuel in the fuel system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N714BL
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15079049
- Airframe hours
- 3,581
- Engine
- Continental 0-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Harley W. Hollingsworth
- Registered owner
- Jim S Knowles
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2006 · 4.4 hours before
- Departed
- ADM · Ardmore, OK
- Destination
- 1F0 · Ardmore, OK
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
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 79 total · 14 in this make and model · 28 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- 1F0
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.