# NTSB ERA24LA117: Cessna 150, N8158F, Dunnellon, FL, February 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 20, 2024, 12:38 local (17:38 UTC) - Place: Dunnellon, FL · Blueberry Field - Coordinates: 29.007256, -82.511324 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0073&lon=-82.5113&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: 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): 193826 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193826/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193826 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/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 150F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071814), [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 150F, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071814), [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. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, approximately 8 miles from the destination airport, and while flying at 2,000 ft mean sea level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing to a blueberry field impacting several sprinkler heads, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot stated that during his preflight inspection, a calibrated fuel dipping stick for the accident airplane make and model was not available, so the pilot “took a look down” into the fuel tanks and was relying on the instrument panel-mounted fuel gauges to determine the quantity of fuel in the airplane. The gauges read about ½ full for both tanks and the pilot felt confident that was sufficient for the planned 23-minute flight. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident. The inspector observed that both fuel tanks were intact and that only a minimal amount of fuel remained in each. The inspector also noted that the fuel gauges in the instrument panel read “at E on the left tank and just above E on the right tank.” Based on this information, it is most likely that the pilot inaccurately determined the amount of fuel available for the flight prior to departure, which subsequently resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8158F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8158F-2025-03-21), registration cancelled 2025-03-21, S/N 15064258, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (F) - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064258 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: BKV, Brooksville, FL - Destination: X35, Dunnellon, FL - Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 171.6 total, 21.1 in this make and model, 116.4 as pilot in command, 65.7 in the last 90 days, 40.6 in the last 30 days, 6.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: CGC, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KCGC 221755Z AUTO 21003KT 10SM CLR 22/M01 A3011 RMK AO2= ## 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 20240220010069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240220010069A), Feb 20, 2024: Cessna 150F, Citrus Springs, FL, Substantial damage. On February 20, 2024 at 1:30 local time I received a call from the roc that a Cessna 150 landed off airport in a blueberry field near dunnellon, Florida. 1… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193826. 19.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 19.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16994620&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01_ERA%2024LA117%206120%20N8158F_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16992680&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02_ERA24LA117%20MOR%20for%20FAA%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Additional FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17018707&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA117%20MOR%20with%20FAA%20(follow-up)-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 508 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16992797&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03_ERA24LA117%20Photo%20Array-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.