# NTSB ERA22LA321: Cessna 150G, N3301J, Tuscaloosa, AL, July 15, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 15, 2022, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Tuscaloosa, AL - Coordinates: 33.206114, -87.619774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2061&lon=-87.6198&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - 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): 105516 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105516/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105516 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA321 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s inadvertent use of the fuel mixture knob instead of the carburetor heat knob, which resulted in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Engine controls: mixture control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing pattern work and while turning onto the base leg of the traffic pattern, inadvertently pulled the mixture knob instead of applying carburetor heat, resulting in a total loss of power. She attempted to restart the engine by pushing the mixture knob back in, however, the propeller had already stopped rotating and the engine did not restart. The student pilot elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the approach to the field, she realized the airplane was too fast and decided to land in an adjacent field. During the landing, the right wing of the airplane struck a guy wire, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. The student pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3301J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3301J-2023-10-21), registration cancelled 2023-10-21, S/N 15066001, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15066001 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 2911.9 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2022, 4.3 hours before - Airport: TCL, Tuscaloosa Ntl, runway 04/22, 6,499 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 58.7 total, 44.6 in this make and model, 13.3 as pilot in command, 4.3 in the last 90 days, 4.3 in the last 30 days, 0.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: TCL - METAR: KTCL 152053Z 00000KT 10SM FEW100 34/22 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP178 T03390217 56017 ## 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 20220715012509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220715012509A), Jul 15, 2022: Cessna 150G, Tuscaloosa, AL, Substantial damage. Student pilot on a local solo flight, in the traffic pattern at Tuscaloosa airport (tcl). Pilot was preparing for a landing and inadvertenly pulled the mixture… ## Other investigations on N3301J (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 MIA72DKG23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA72DKG23), Aug 16, 1971: Cessna 150G (N3301J), Gray, GA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105516. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14273771&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA321%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14277358&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA321-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.