- Date
- December 11, 1992, 20:15 local (Dec 12, 1992, 02:15 UTC)
- Place
- Norman, OK
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6539LCessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921211049879A
- Case key
- 18627
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 pilot's failure to refuel the airplane and power loss due to fuel exhaustion. Factors were the dark night and lack of suitable terrain.
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
During a cross country flight, that commenced during daylight hours and terminated under dark night conditions, the airplane lost engine power. During the landing to unsuitable terrain the airplane struck electrical wires and a telephone post. A witness saw the airplane landing light, but did not hear the engine running. The pilot did not refuel after his 1st leg and was unable to do so at the next 2 landing sites. Enroute to his 4th destination the loss of power occurred following approximately 5 hours and 45 minutes of flight. An examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed, one gallon of fuel in the airplane and no fuel spillage on the ground. The pilot informed the control facility that he was 10 miles from the intended landing site and a short time later reported his engine shutdown and he was out of fuel. The pilot was not using his shoulder harness and he sustained injuries to the facial areas. The pilot was issued his private certificate 10 days prior.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6539L
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15284429
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- American Flight Academy
- Registered owner
- American Flight Academy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 2, 2000
- Departed
- ADH · Ada, OK
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
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 82 total · 35 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OKC, 4 nm away
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 N6539L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.