# NTSB FTW01LA099: Cessna 150L, N19045, Iowa Park, TX, April 12, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 2001, 03:00 local (08:00 UTC) - Place: Iowa Park, TX - Coordinates: 33.95016, -98.680938 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9502&lon=-98.6809&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52065 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52065/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA099 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion during takeoff due to the pilot's failure to refuel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - refueling - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis After about 3.8 hours of night cross country instructional flight, the CFI and dual student pilot were in a local touch and go pattern toward the conclusion of the planned flight. With the student pilot at the controls, during the final take off, the airplane was at an altitude of about 50 feet AGL when the engine lost power. The CFI took control and landed the airplane on the end of the departure runway, but could not stop before rolling through a grass field, a barbed wire fence, over a road, and into a ditch. A visual inspection of the aircraft at the accident site revealed that the fuel gauge for the left fuel tank did not register any amount of fuel, and the right fuel tank gauge registered below the "E" mark on the gauge. A visual check of the sight gauges on level ground showed about 1/4 gallons in the right fuel tank and less than 1 gallon in the left fuel tank. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2001, approximately 0300 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N19045, registered to and operated by a private individual, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power after take off from the Wichita Valley Airpark, Iowa Park, Texas. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and his student pilot were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight originated from Bowie, Texas, approximately 0200. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the CFI reported that he was giving his student night flight instruction, and was in the local traffic pattern performing touch-and-go take offs and landings when the accident occurred. After the last landing, the student pilot was performing a maximum performance takeoff, and during the initial climb, the engine lost power. The CFI took control of the airplane and landed at the end of the paved runway surface. The airplane rolled through a grass field, impacted a barbed wire fence, passed over a road, and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane was examined by an FAA inspector the morning after the accident. The inspector reported that the left wing was buckled, and the fuselage was buckled just aft of the firewall. A visual check of the fuel tanks on level ground with a sight gauge showed 1/4 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank, and 1/2 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank. With electrical power applied, the fuel gauge for the left tank did not register any amount of fuel, and the gauge for the right fuel tank registered slightly below the "E" mark on the gauge. The pilot submitted a written statement (available in the public docket) indicating that he had calculated the fuel requirement for the flight using flight manual consumption figures of 4.0 to 4.6 gallons per hour (gph) and "knew" that he "had enough calculated fuel to complete the flight." He reported that the aircraft owner told him (after the accident) that the airplane "never used less than 6 gph." The pilot further reported that when the engine lost power, the airplane had benn flown "3.8 hours without refueling." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19045](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19045), registered now, S/N 15074122, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150L - 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: 15074122 - Engines: Lycoming O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeff Skinner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: OF2, Bowie, TX - Destination: T47, Wichita Falls, TX - Airport: F14, Wichita Valley, runway 31, 3,320 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 8, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 3,784 total, 92 in this make and model, 3,620 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 33 total, 33 in this make and model, 33 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg ## 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 20010412011039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010412011039A), Apr 12, 2001: Cessna 150L, Wichita Falls, TX, No damage. (.19)On April 12, 2001, at 0345 CDT, a Cessna 150L airplane, N19045, registered to and operated by a private individual, sustained substantial damage during a… 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.