- Date
- March 26, 2011, 12:46 local (16:46 UTC)
- Place
- Hannawana Falls, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8830GCessna 150F
- Defining event
- Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 20, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110326006799A
- Case key
- 78715
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 fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he could not remember the exact date he last fueled his airplane, but recalled that it was completely fueled. He then flew about 2 hours uneventfully. The airplane was not refueled and he departed on the planned 1 hour 19 minute flight. The flight took longer than expected due to a headwind and he said that he deviated over some clouds. During a cruise descent to the destination airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power and he performed a forced landing to a road, about 4 miles south of the destination airport. During the landing, the left wing struck trees, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot added that the accident was due to 100 percent fuel exhaustion.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the Cessna 150F stated that he could not remember the exact date he last fueled his airplane, but recalled that it was completely fueled. He then flew about 2 hours during two uneventful flights. The airplane was not refueled and the pilot departed on the planned 1 hour 19 minute accident flight. The flight took longer than expected due to a headwind and the pilot also deviated over some clouds. During a cruise descent to the destination airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the pilot performed a forced landing to a road, about 4 miles south of the destination airport. During the landing, the left wing struck trees, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot added that the accident was "100 percent fuel exhaustion."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8830G
- Reported as
- Cessna 150F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15062930
- Airframe hours
- 3,360
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2010 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- VGC · Hamilton, NY
- Destination
- PTD · Hannawana Falls, NY
- Airport
- PTD · Potsdam Municipal Airport, runway 06, 3,705 × 60 ft, asphalt
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
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 21, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 120 total · 19 in this make and model · 34 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- MSS, 20 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 340 KB in all.
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 N8830G · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.