# NTSB FTW93LA224: Cessna 150M, N66081, Bald Knob, AR, August 1, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 1993, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Bald Knob, AR - Coordinates: 35.300796, -91.569686 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3008&lon=-91.5697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18803 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18803/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA224 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. 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 - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES FROM THE PLANNED DESTINATION, AND 2 HOURS AND 5 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO AN UNEVEN FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AN ON SITE EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK DID NOT CONTAIN FUEL AND THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED LESS THAN ONE GALLON OF FUEL. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 1993, at approximately 0915 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N66081, sustained substantial damage near Bald Knob, Arkansas, during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight. During interviews, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, with the pilot the following information was revealed. The pilot departed Lexington, Mississippi, at 0710 after adding ten gallons of fuel for the planned two hour flight to Batesville, Arkansas. Approximately 20 minutes from the destination, the engine lost power. A forced landing was initiated to a field. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed when it hit a hole in the uneven terrain. The Pilot/Operator report submitted to the Safety Board, revealed that fuel on board at departure was 19 gallons. During an on site examination of the fuel system by a FAA inspector, the fuel tank integrity had not been compromised and no fuel was found in the left fuel tank and less than one gallon was found in the right fuel tank. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66081](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66081-2012-04-25), registration cancelled 2012-04-25, S/N 15075821, built 1974 (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: 15075821 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bryant, Steven J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 19M, LEXINGTON, MS - Destination: BVX, BATESVILLE, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 131 total, 34 in this make and model, 87 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JBR, 40 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930801030879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930801030879A), Aug 1, 1993: Cessna 150M, Bald Knob, AR, Substantial damage. Lost power 20 mins from destination. Collapsed nose gear landing rough field. Fuel tanks empty useable fuel. ## Other investigations on N66081 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI00LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA159), Jun 11, 2000: Cessna 150M (N66081), Bethalto, IL, destroyed. Probable cause: the improper in-flight decision of the pilot to fly past the Vandalia airport onto Saint Louis Regional and the fuel exhaustion. A factor was the ditch. 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.