# NTSB FTW04LA180: Cessna 150M, N8959U, Sherrill, AR, July 9, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 2004, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Sherrill, AR - Coordinates: 34.381389, -91.958335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3814&lon=-91.9583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59606/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA180 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision which resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis While on the final leg of a solo cross-country flight, approximately 1 mile from the airport, the airplane's engine lost power. The student pilot initiated a forced landing to a cornfield. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted cornstalks, the terrain, and came to rest upright in a field. The pilot stated "[visual] examination [revealed] that fuel exhaustion [caused the accident]." The engine was test run on the airframe and ran at various power settings for approximately 2 minutes with no anomalies noted. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2004, approximately 1420 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, single engine airplane, N8959U, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight near Sherrill, Arkansas. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The cross-country flight departed Stuttgart Municipal Airport, Stuttgart, Arkansas, approximately 1345, and was destined for Sherrill. According to the pilot, he had departed Smith's International Airport (99A), Sherrill, Arkansas, to complete a solo cross-country flight. During the cross-county flight, the pilot landed the airplane at two other airports and had flown for approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. While on the final leg of a solo cross-country, approximately 1 mile from the airport, the engine began to "sputter and cut out." Shortly thereafter, the airplane's engine lost total power. The student pilot initiated a forced landing to a cornfield. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted cornstalks and terrain, and came to rest upright in a field. The pilot stated "[visual] examination [revealed] that fuel exhaustion [caused the accident]." The pilot did not refuel the airplane prior to departure from 99A or during the cross-country flight, and it was not determined how much fuel was on-board at the time of the departure from 99A. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported the aft fuselage was buckled, the nose landing gear was separated, and the firewall was bent. The inspector observed "minimal" fuel in both main fuel tanks, and no damage was noted on the propeller. The airplane was recovered for further examination. On July 27, 2004, under the supervision of an FAA inspector, at the facilities of Dawson Aircraft, Clinton, Arkansas, the engine was test run on the airframe. According to the inspector, some oil was added prior to the engine test run. The engine started on the first attempt, and a magneto check was performed. The engine ran at various power settings for approximately 2 minutes with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8959U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8959U-2006-02-02), registration cancelled 2006-02-02, S/N 15078029, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 78029 - Airframe hours: 10785 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Willie C. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SGT, Stuttgart, AR - Destination: Sherrill, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 26 total, 26 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.09 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 20040709016089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040709016089A), Jul 9, 2004: Cessna 150M, Sherrill, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 9, 2004 at approximately 1420 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, single engine airplane, N8959U, sustained substantial damage during a forced… 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.