# NTSB ERA12CA125: Cessna 150H, N22565, Knoxville, TN, December 26, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 26, 2011, 10:21 local (14:21 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.907501, -83.919441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9075&lon=-83.9194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 27, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82567 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82567/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82567 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA125 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, about 300 feet above ground level, a total engine power loss occurred. The pilot attempted to restart the engine unsuccessfully and performed a forced landing into trees. The wings and fuselage of the airplane were substantially damaged. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel tanks remained intact and were not breached and that each tank contained about 2 gallons of fuel. The airplane was equipped with two 19-gallon wing tanks with a total fuel capacity of 38 gallons, of which 35 gallons were usable. Examination of the engine revealed that no fuel was present in the fuel lines or the fuel separator. There was no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, about 300 feet above ground level, a total engine power loss occurred. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restart the engine and performed a forced landing into trees. The wings and fuselage of the airplane were substantially damaged. A subsequent examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the fuel tanks remained intact and were not breached, and contained about two gallons of fuel in each tank. The airplane was equipped with two 19-gallon wing tanks with a total fuel capacity of 38 gallons; of which, 35 gallons are usable. Further examination of the engine revealed that there was no fuel present in the fuel lines or the fuel separator on the engine. The inspector found no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22565](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22565-2014-09-16), registration cancelled 2014-09-16, S/N 15068366, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15068366 - Airframe hours: 4668 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sanders John B DBA - Registered owner: Sanders John B DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2011 - Departed: NONE, Knoxville, TN - Destination: TN98, Knoxville, TN - Airport: NONE, Sanders Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 8, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 25,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 7 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 20111226029139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111226029139A), Dec 26, 2011: Cessna 150H, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. The aircraft departed a private grass strip south of Knoxville, TN, for sky ranch, a private grass strip about 3 miles away to the southwest. During the climb… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82567. 8.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 712 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - TYS Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361461&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=TYS%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record: FAA Engine Examination (item 3, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%3A%20FAA%20Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Side view of Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Side%20view%20of%20Airplane%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Front View of Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Front%20View%20of%20Airplane%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.