# NTSB ERA21LA307: Cessna 150, N561QL, Carrollton, AL, July 1, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 1, 2021, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Carrollton, AL - Coordinates: 33.289956, -88.151754 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2900&lon=-88.1518&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 103580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA307 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103580/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103580 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA307 ## Probable cause The pilot’s incorrect preflight planning and poor in-flight planning, resulting in fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the damage was the inadvertent encounter with a hole during the forced landing. ## 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 · Incorrect use/operation (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) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (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) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis Earlier that day, the pilot had flown the airplane on three flights with no airframe or engine issues reported. Prior to the accident flight, he used a dipstick to determine the total quantity of fuel in the left and right fuel tanks, noting they contained 4 gallons and 3 gallons, respectively. He added that the total amount did not account for the unusable fuel amount, which according to the airplane Type Certificate Data Sheet totaled 3.5 gallons. After takeoff with about 3.5 gallons of usable fuel on-board for the flight requiring 4 gallons, the flight climbed to 2,500 ft mean sea level where the pilot leaned the fuel to air ratio and proceeded towards the destination, with slight deviation due to weather while en route. He reported that as the flight continued, he knew he was low on fuel and when south of a nearby airport, he looked at his fuel gauges and in hindsight knew he should have landed there. He elected to continue, and after flying about 35 minutes, he “ran out of [fuel] 8 miles before [he] got there.” About the time of the loss of engine power the left fuel gauge was indicating more than 1/2 gallon and the right fuel gauge indicated empty, but they were lower than he had ever seen them. After experiencing a loss of engine power, he spotted a field below and performed S-turns and slips but landed faster than he liked. While at a slow speed, the nose landing gear rolled into a hole causing it to separate. The airplane came to rest upright with the tail elevated. The pilot, who was also an airframe and powerplant mechanic, reported that following the accident he drained the fuel strainer and only 2 ounces were recovered. He also drained a little over 1/2 gallon of fuel from the left fuel tank and no fuel from the right fuel tank. On the submitted NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report and also verbally, he indicated there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airframe or engine that caused the fuel exhaustion. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received a report of damage to the airplane and inspected it on July 28, 2021; prior to this the event was not reported. Extensive damage to the engine mount was noted which constituted substantial damage. With no fuel in the fuel tanks and electrical power applied, the left fuel gauge was reading slightly above empty while the right fuel gauge was reading empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N561QL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N561QL-2022-11-16), registration cancelled 2022-11-16, S/N 15069155 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (H) - 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: 15069155 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 3793.4 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Schrock Aircraft Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 2021 - Departed: MPE, Philadelphia, MS - Destination: 3M8, Reform, AL - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 433 total, 100 in this make and model - Pilot-rated passenger; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 28, 2020; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KGTR, 24 nm away - METAR: METAR KGTR 011756Z 22008KT 10SM FEW034 31/24 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP163 6//// T03110239 10311 20228 58014 PNO $= ## 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 20210701012439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210701012439A), Jul 1, 2021: Cessna 150H, Reform, AL, Substantial damage. On July 1, 2021 at approximately 1300 CST N561QL landed in a field in pickens county, AL. Due to fuel depletion while flying from philadelphia, MS. (Kmpe) to… ## Other investigations on N561QL (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC72DCD15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72DCD15), Jul 31, 1971: Cessna 150 (N561QL), Knoxville, IA, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 11, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103580. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12900974&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Recd%209%2010%202021_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 789 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12653923&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of NTSB conversations (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12900343&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement to NTSB from pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12900353&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement%20to%20NTSB%20From%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12902469&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12904446&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Executed%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-Rel.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.