# NTSB FTW04CA239: Cessna 150L, N11418, Mountain Home, TX, September 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2004, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Mountain Home, TX - Coordinates: 30.150833, -99.316947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1508&lon=-99.3169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 60153 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04CA239 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60153/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA239 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper inflight planning which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Nose over, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 375-hour private pilot, before leaving Kerrville Municipal Airport, asked the line crew to "top off" the fuel tanks. The line crew indicated they had filled both tanks, but the pilot did not visually check the fuel level before departure. On the return flight from Lampasas Airport, while near Mountain Home, Texas and at approximately 2,800 feet above ground level, the engine briefly ran rough and then lost power. The pilot observed that the fuel gages were "one needles width above empty", and attempted to restart the engine. When the engine failed to start, the pilot elected to land in a freshly planted field. The pilot touched down and the initial landing roll were uneventful, but the nose gear subsequently collapsed and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. The fuel system and engine were examined after the wreckage was recovered to a secure location. The engine was successfully run for 30 minutes. No anomalies were found that could have prevented normal engine operation. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2004, at about 1800 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L single-engine airplane, N11418, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near Mountain Home, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private corporation and operated by Kerrville Aviation of Kerrville, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross-country flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The round-robin flight originated from the Kerrville Municipal Airport (ERV), Kerrville, Texas, approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes prior to the accident with a stop at Lampasas Airport (T28), Lampasas, Texas, to pick up a passenger. According to the 375-hour private pilot, before leaving Kerrville Municipal Airport, he asked the line crew to "top-off" the fuel tanks. The line crew indicated they had filled both tanks, but the pilot reported that because he did not have a ladder available, he did not visually check the fuel level before departure. On the return flight from Lampasas Airport, the pilot reported that while near Mountain Home, Texas, at approximately 2,800 feet above ground level, the engine briefly ran rough and then lost power. The pilot observed that the fuel gages were "one needles width above empty", and attempted to restart the engine. When the engine failed to start, the pilot elected to land in a freshly planted field. The pilot reported that the touch down and initial landing roll were uneventful, but the nose gear subsequently collapsed and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and reported that he could not see or hear any fuel in the left tank and that the right tank contained approximately one gallon of fuel. He further reported that the left wing outboard leading edge was crushed aftward and that both wing rear spars were buckled. An NTSB investigator performed a post accident examination of the engine and fuel system. The lower engine mount was supported and a temporary fuel tank was installed to facilitate operating the engine while still on the airframe. The engine was then started and was run for approximately 30 minutes. The left and right magneto checks indicated an approximately 75 rpm drop and the oil pressure and oil temperature remained in the normal operating range. The fuel gascolator screen and carburetor inlet screen were both found to be clean. The post engine run compressions where found to be as follows: #1 76/80, #2 76/80, #3 74/80, #4 70/80. The left fuel tank vent was found obstructed. The crossover vent and single vented fuel cap were unobstructed and performed normaly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11418](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11418-2014-08-28), registration cancelled 2014-08-28, S/N 15075405, built 1973 (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: 15075405 - Engines: Continental O 200 A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kerrville Aviation - Registered owner: Joseph L Kenndy Enterprises LTD - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: T28, LAMPASAS, TX - Destination: ERV, KERRVILLE, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 375 total, 375 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040917026969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040917026969A), Sep 17, 2004: Cessna 150L, Mountain Home, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that he left kerrville, Texas with full fuel but he did not verify the actual fuel level through the filler opening. He relied on ground… 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.