# NTSB ERA20CA226: Cessna 150, N1718Q, Shelby, NC, June 22, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 22, 2020, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Shelby, NC - Coordinates: 35.254165, -81.525001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2542&lon=-81.5250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101481 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101481/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101481 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA226 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## 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 · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071826), [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. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane he had recently purchased and departed with full fuel tanks. During the flight, while receiving flight following services from air traffic control, he was requested to adjust his heading and was eventually routed back on course. When the airplane was about 3 miles from the destination airport, the engine "sputter[ed]." The pilot verified that the fuel shutoff was on, primed the engine, and pumped the throttle with little improvement from the engine. He noted that when the airplane was pitched down, the engine would "sputter," and when it was pitched up, the engine would run. He checked the fuel quantity, and the left fuel gauge indicated 1/8 usable fuel and the right tank indicated "almost" 1/4 usable fuel. The pilot decided the airplane would not be able to make the airport and located a field to perform a forced landing. During the accident sequence, the airplane experienced a hard landing and the engine mount and left wing were substantially damaged. After the airplane was recovered, the pilot drained the unbreached fuel tanks and 3 gallons were removed from the airplane. According to the airplane Pilot Operating Handbook, the airplane held 26 total gallons of fuel, of which 22.5 gallons were useable. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident, however, the right fuel gauge was slightly incorrect. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane he had recently purchased and departed with full fuel tanks. During the flight, while receiving flight following services from air traffic control, he was requested to adjust his heading and was eventually routed back on course. When the airplane was about 3 miles from the destination airport, the engine "sputter[ed]." The pilot verified that the fuel shutoff was on, primed the engine, and pumped the throttle with little improvement from the engine. He noted that when the airplane was pitched down, the engine would "sputter," and when it was pitched up, the engine would run. He checked the fuel quantity, and the left fuel gauge indicated 1/8 usable fuel and the right tank indicated "almost" 1/4 usable fuel. The pilot decided the airplane would not be able to make the airport and located a field to perform a forced landing. During the accident sequence, the airplane experienced a hard landing and the engine mount and left wing were substantially damaged. After the airplane was recovered, the pilot drained the unbreached fuel tanks and 3 gallons were removed from the airplane. According to the airplane Pilot Operating Handbook, the airplane held 26 total gallons of fuel, of which 22.5 gallons were useable. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident, however, the right fuel gauge was slightly incorrect. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1718Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1718Q), registered now, S/N 15073018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15073018 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 4261 - Engines: Continental O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 1, 2019 - Departed: PGV, Greenville, NC - Destination: EHO, Shelby, NC - Airport: EHO, Shelby-Cleveland County Rgnl - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 272 total, 120 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: EHO, 4 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 20200622006479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200622006479A), Jun 22, 2020: Cessna 150L, Shelby, NC, Substantial damage. On June 22, 2020 at approximately 11752Z, a Cessna 150 single engine aircraft, N1718Q departed on a VFR flight from the pitt-greenville airport (kpgv) enroute… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101481. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Pilot Operating Handbook Excerpt - Usable Fuel (item 4, .PDF, 233 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Operating%20Handbook%20Excerpt%20-%20Usable%20Fuel-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-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.