# NTSB ERA09LA208: Cessna 150E, N4057U, Columbia, MS, March 21, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 21, 2009, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Columbia, MS - Coordinates: 31.484443, -89.821945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.4844&lon=-89.8219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73540 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73540/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73540 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA208 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power in flight due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 150E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150E, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Cessna 150E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2071812), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot flew a cross-country flight, 2 hours in duration, making stops at 2 airports. He then added 10 gallons of fuel to the airplane and observed that the quantity of fuel in the tanks was 1 ½ inches from the top of the fuel tank. The pilot flew approximately one hour, dropped off a passenger, and then departed for the return flight to his home airport. He did not refuel, or look in the fuel tanks to confirm the fuel quantity before departure. The pilot reported he relied mostly on his fuel gauges, which indicated half-full and three-quarters full, to confirm that he had adequate fuel for the flight. After flying for about one hour, while on final approach to the home airport, the airplane's engine lost power and the pilot performed a forced landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank contained only "a trace of fuel." Less than a pint of fuel was drained from the gascolator. No mechanical failures were identified by the Federal Aviation Administration, nor were any reported by the pilot. The pilot reported he conducted the flights with the mixture control in the full rich position. The Pilot's Operating Handbook for the aircraft instructs the pilot to lean the fuel mixture for better fuel economy while in cruise flight. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2009 at 1730 central daylight time, a Cessna 150E, N4057U, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Colombia, Mississippi. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The cross-country flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, he originally departed from a private airstrip near Colombia, Mississippi at approximately 0800 with full fuel tanks. He flew to the Natchez-Adams County Airport (HEZ), Natchez, Mississippi, to pick up a passenger, arriving at approximately 0900. The pilot and passenger then flew approximately one hour to the Columbia-Marion County Airport (0R0), Columbia, Mississippi. Prior to departure from 0R0, for a return flight to HEZ, the pilot added 10.74 gallons of fuel, leaving about "an inch and a half" of space between the fuel and the top of the fuel tank in each wing. He and the passenger departed 0R0 around 1500 and arrived at HEZ at 1600. The pilot dropped off his passenger, and prepared for his return flight to 0R0. He checked his fuel gauges and determined that he had enough fuel to make the flight back to 0R0 (one gauge indicated half full and one gauge indicated ¾ full). He did not look in the tanks and did not add more fuel at that time. The pilot stated he relied mostly on his fuel gauges in determining how much fuel he had onboard. The pilot flew for approximately one hour before the engine lost power. At that time, the airplane was on final approach to runway 5 at 0R0, at an altitude of 1,500 feet. The pilot attempted unsuccessfully to restart the engine, and he subsequently prepared for a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted pine trees less than half a mile southwest of the airport, substantially damaging the wing spars and firewall. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the fuel tanks were not compromised, the right fuel tank was dry and the left fuel tank contained only "a trace of fuel." Less than a pint of fuel was drained from the gascolator. The fuel selector was found in the "ON" position. The mixture and throttle were both found to be at the "full in" position, indicating full throttle and a rich mixture. The engine was rotated and valve train continuity and compression was obtained on all cylinders. No mechanical failures were identified by the FAA, nor were any reported by the pilot. According to the Cessna 150E owner's manual, the fuel tanks had a total capacity of 26 gallons, 3.5 gallons of which were unusable. At an altitude of 2,500 feet, the airplane's engine consumed 7.2 gallons of fuel per hour at full power with a properly leaned mixture. However, the pilot stated that he kept the mixture "all the way in" during the entire flight. According to the owner's manual, the proper leaning procedure during cruise was to"lean to maximum RPM." Examination of an airport log from HEZ revealed the airplane arrived at 1522 and departed at 1635. Fuel receipts provided by the Columbia-Marion County Airport confirmed the pilot purchased 10.74 gallons of fuel on March 21, 2009 at 1152. The most recent annual inspection was completed on the airplane on July 3, 2008, at a total aircraft time of 3,560 hours. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. The pilot had accumulated 858 hours of flight experience, 12 hours of which were in the Cessna 150E. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued on January 8, 2009. The 1735 reported weather at Pine Belt Regional Airport (PIB), located 27 nautical miles east of 0R0, included winds from 060 degrees at 5 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 24 degrees Celsius, dew point 3 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.25 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4057U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4057U-2021-10-30), registration cancelled 2021-10-30, S/N 15061457, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150E - Registry model: [Cessna 150E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150e) (registry code 2071812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15061457 - Airframe hours: 3560 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2008 - Departed: HEZ, Natchez, MS - Destination: 0R0, Columbia, MS - Airport: 0R0, Columbia-Marion County Airport, runway 05, 4,460 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 858 total, 12 in this make and model, 858 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 58° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 37 °F - Observed at: PIB, 26 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 20090321002429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090321002429A), Mar 21, 2009: Cessna 150E, Columbia, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) During final approach to runway 5 at the Columbia airport (0R0) the aircraft lost power short of the runway. Visual inspection of the fuel tanks at the… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73540. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 735 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot statement (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311199&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Interview (item 3, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview-Redacted.PDF - FAA Statements (item 4, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311183&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Fuel sales receipt (item 5, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20sales%20receipt-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts from owner's manual (item 6, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20owner%27s%20manual-Master.PDF - Weather information (item 7, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40311185&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20information-Master.PDF 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.