FTW01LA001

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150L · Nashville, AR · October 1, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 1, 2000, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Nashville, AR
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N11390Cessna 150L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 9, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20001001036199A
Case key
50391

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to refuel resulting in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb
Fluid,fuel - exhaustionCause
Refueling - not performedPilot in commandCause
Forced landingTakeoff - initial climb
Nose overLanding - roll
Terrain condition - none suitableFactor
Terrain condition - berm

Analysis

During the takeoff, the single-engine airplane 'began to run rough for a few minutes.' The pilot landed the airplane at the airport, taxied to the ramp area, and conducted a ground run of the airplane. No discrepancies were noted during the ground run, and the pilot performed the second takeoff. During that takeoff/initial climb, approximately 400 feet agl, the engine began to run rough and then stopped completely. The pilot landed the airplane in a field adjacent to the airport, and during the landing roll, the airplane struck a terrace, collapsed the nose landing gear, nosed over and came to rest inverted. The operator reported an accumulated flight time of 3 hours since the last known refueling. The pilot/operator estimated the fuel at the last takeoff was 8 gallons. No evidence of fuel was found at the accident site or in the airplane. The integrity of the fuel system was not compromised. No discrepancies were noted during the 17-minute post-accident engine run.

Factual narrative

On October 1, 2000, at 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L single-engine airplane, N11390, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power during takeoff/initial climb from the Nashville Howard County Airport, near Nashville, Arkansas. The airplane was owned and operated by Pro Aviation, Inc., of Mountain Home, Arkansas. The private pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight to Mountain Home, Arkansas, with a refueling stop planned at Hot Springs, Arkansas. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan was not filed.

The pilot reported that earlier in the day, he and a passenger departed Mountain Home, Arkansas, with full fuel for the cross-country flight to Nashville. The GPS time recorded for the flight was 1 hour and 53 minutes. After deplaning the passenger at Nashville, the pilot took another passenger for a local flight for 10 to 15 minutes in the vicinity of Nashville. After returning the passenger to the Nashville Howard County Airport, the pilot departed for the return cross-country flight to Mountain Home.

During the takeoff, the airplane "began to run rough for a few minutes." The pilot landed the airplane on runway 19, taxied to the ramp area, and conducted a ground run of the airplane. No discrepancies were noted during the ground run, and the pilot performed the second takeoff. During the runway 19 takeoff/initial climb, approximately 400 feet agl, the engine began to run rough and then stopped completely. With the engine stopped, the pilot determined that the airplane would not make the airport. The pilot landed the airplane in a field adjacent to the airport, and during the landing roll, the airplane struck a terrace, collapsed the nose landing gear, nosed over and came to rest inverted.

Local authorities reported that the vertical stabilizer was damaged and the propeller blades were straight. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, found no evidence of fuel at the site or in the airplane. He further reported that the integrity of the fuel system was not compromised. The operator reported an accumulated flight time of 3 hours since the last known refueling. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), it was reported that the estimated fuel on board at the last takeoff was 8 gallons.

At 1553, the local weather observation at Texarkana, Arkansas (31 nautical miles southwest of the accident site), reported the wind from 200 degrees at 10 knots.

The wings were removed from the airframe and the airplane was transported to Air Salvage of Dallas, Lancaster, Texas, for further investigation. On November 15, 2000, the engine remained attached to the airframe with the original propeller installed for an engine run. No discrepancies were noted during the 17 minute engine run at various power settings.

Aircraft

Registration
N11390
Reported as
Cessna 150L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15075379
Airframe hours
7,195
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Pro Aviation, Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · September 20, 2000 · 28 hours before
Departed
M77
Destination
HOT · Hot Springs, AR
Airport
M77 · Nashville Howard County, runway 19, 3,660 × 50 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
48
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
271 total · 70 in this make and model · 187 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
TXK, 31 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.