- 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.
On this page
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.
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.