FTW03LA109

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150G · Hope, AR · March 15, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 15, 2003, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
Place
Hope, AR
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N493RACessna 150G
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 30, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20030315004879A
Case key
56621

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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing 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 powerCruise
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterEmergency landing
Terrain condition - berm
Terrain condition - none suitable
Nose gear collapsedEmergency landing

Analysis

The 11,051-hour pilot stated that the 211-nautical mile cross-country flight originated at approximately 1030 that morning. He stated that he departed with a full load of fuel, which should have provided him with a fuel range of 3 hours and 40 minutes. The pilot added that approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes into the flight, he elected to make an intermediate stop at an airport located 162-nautical miles from his point of deptarture. The airport was unattended at the time of his arrival so the pilot did not add any fuel during the intermediate stop. The pilot departed again at 1255 for his final destination. At about 1325, while the airplane was 3 miles north of the landing threshold for his intended destination, the engine began to run tough, followed by a complete "stoppage." The pilot executed a forced landing to a pasture. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Factual narrative

On March 15, 2003, approximately 1330 central standard time, a Cessna 150G single-engine airplane, N493RA, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Hope, Arkansas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Mount Ida, Arkansas, approximately 1300, with Hope, Arkansas (M18), as its intended destination.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the 11,051-hour pilot stated that the 211-nautical mile cross country flight originated from the Downtown Airport (3DW), near Springfield, Missouri, at approximately 1030 that morning. He stated that he departed with a full load of fuel, which should have provided him with a fuel range of 3 hours and 40 minutes.

The pilot added that approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes into the flight, he elected to make an intermediate stop at the Bearce Airport (7M3), near Mount Ida, Arkansas, located 162-nautical miles from his point of departure. The Bearce Airport was unattended so he did not add any fuel at that time. The pilot further stated that he departed 7M3 at approximately 1255, for the Hope Municipal Airport (M18), near Hope, Arkansas.

At about 1325, while the airplane was 3 miles north of the landing threshold for the Hope Airport, the engine began to run tough, followed by a complete "stoppage." The pilot executed a forced landing to a pasture. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed and the left wing tip was bent.

According to the FAA Inspector, who responded to the accident site, the 1967-model airplane came to rest about 2 miles from the airport. He confirmed that the nose landing gear was collapsed and the engine firewall was damaged.

Based on the data provided by the pilot, the airplane traveled for 209 nautical miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes, and 55 minutes of fuel should have been present in the fuel system. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Aircraft

Registration
N493RA
Reported as
Cessna 150G
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15066987
Airframe hours
6,913.5
Engine
Continental O-200 A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Ferry · Part 91
Registered owner
Fredie Palmer
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 14, 2003 · 3.5 hours before
Departed
7M3 · Mt. Ida, AR
Destination
M18 · Hope, AR
Airport
M18 · Hope Municipal

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
70
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 17, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
11,051 total · 62 in this make and model · 11,203 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N493RA · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.