# NTSB FTW94LA161: Cessna 150J, N51150, Del Rio, TX, May 14, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 1994, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Del Rio, TX - Coordinates: 29.369457, -100.88916 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3695&lon=-100.8892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19057 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19057/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA161 ## Probable cause FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis THE FLIGHT ORIGINALLY DEPARTED WITH 26 GALLONS OF FUEL. BASED ON HIS FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, THE PILOT ADDED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL DURING AN EN ROUTE STOP. TOTAL FUEL OF 31 GALLONS MINUS THE UNUSABLE FUEL OF 3.5 GALLONS WOULD LEAVE 27.5 GALLONS USABLE FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. THE TOTAL TIME ON THE HOBBS METER WAS 4.8 HOURS. THIS INCLUDED 3 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. FAA CALCULATIONS INDICATED THE PILOT NEEDED 28.8 GALLONS OF FUEL TO MAKE THE TRIP. THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER, WHO HAD 1.7 HOURS OF TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE, ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE BECAUSE THE ONLY SUITABLE TERRAIN APPARENT TO THE PILOTS WAS BEHIND AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE. THEY DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES AND A FENCE DURING THE FORCED LANDING. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 1994, at 1230 central daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N51150, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Del Rio, Texas. The commercial pilot and a pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight. The pilot reported in his enclosed pilot/operator report that the flight departed with full fuel from Del Rio, Texas, on May 13, 1994, and flew a 2 hour trip to Fort Stockton, Texas. The next morning a 40 minute trip was made to Alpine, Texas, where 5 gallons of fuel was added for the return flight to Del Rio, Texas. The pilot further reported that each leg of the trip was flown at 6,500 feet MSL and a 2,500 RPM setting with a calculated fuel burn of 5 gallons per hour. During the cruise descent, at approximately 3 to 5 miles from the destination airport, a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot selected a field behind and to the right of the airplane's flight path. Due to his better view of the field, the pilot rated passenger in the right seat manipulated the controls from 600 feet above the ground during the emergency. According to the pilot/operator report, he had 1.7 hours in this make and model airplane. The airplane impacted several trees and a fence prior to coming to rest adjacent to the field. According to the enclosed mechanic statement, the total fuel recovered from the tanks was 2.5 gallons. The total time on the Hobbs meter for the trip was 4.8 hours. Manufacturer data indicates the fuel tank capacity as 26 gallons with 3.5 gallons as unusable fuel. The original departure with 26 gallons of fuel and the added five gallons of fuel gave a total of 31 gallons for the flight. Subtracting the 3.5 gallons of unusable fuel would leave 27.5 gallons usable fuel for the trip. Based on information from the pilot and the manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector (statement enclosed) calculated 28.8 gallons of usable fuel needed for the trip. In his pilot/operator report, the pilot-in-command stated a cruise fuel burn as 5 gph. The pilot rated passenger stated that according to their calculations refueling with 5 gallons of fuel should have given enough fuel for the return flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51150](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51150-2018-10-27), registration cancelled 2018-10-27, S/N 15069798 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15069798 - Airframe hours: 3566 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mcirvin Aviation - Registered owner: Mcirvin, James R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 1994, 38 hours before - Departed: E38, ALPINE, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,850 total, 78 in this make and model, 1,010 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 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 19940514010829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940514010829A), May 14, 1994: Cessna 150J, Del Rio, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Struck trees and fence landing. Had incorrect judgement of fuel burn. Didn't top tanks fueling 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.