# NTSB FTW94LA255: Cessna 150J, N5580G, Silver City, NM, July 31, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 1994, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Silver City, NM - Coordinates: 32.780117, -108.260116 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7801&lon=-108.2601&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19128 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19128/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA255 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND THE RESULTANT 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 - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - fence - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rising - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED WITHOUT REFUELING WHEN THE GAUGE SHOWED 1/4 FULL. THE PILOT REPORTED A DEPARTURE FIVE MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT; HOWEVER, LOCAL AUTHORITIES REPORTED THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AS ONE HOUR AND 20 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE. THE AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER IN AN AREA OF RISING TERRAIN AND DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN, IN ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE FUSELAGE, WING, AND VERTICAL STABILIZER. LOCAL AUTHORITIES REPORTED THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF FUEL AT THE SITE. AN FAA MECHANIC FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS OR GASCOLATOR. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATOR REPORT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION FAILURE. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 1994, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N5580G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Silver City, New Mexico. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. At 1040, the airplane departed Grant County Airport, Hurley, New Mexico, on a flight to Whiskey Creek Airport; which is 8 nautical miles north northwest of Grant County Airport. The airplane lost power 6 nautical miles from Grant County Airport in an area of rising terrain. During the landing flare/touchdown in rough and uneven terrain, the airplane struck a barbed wire fence and came to rest inverted. Structural damaged occurred to the fuselage, horizontal stabilizer, and wings. Local authorities reported the airplane departed with 1/4 tank of fuel and the accident occurred at 1200. According to a witness who was at the accident site during the recovery of the airplane there was no physical evidence of fuel. A mechanic with FAA inspection authorization (AI), inspected the airplane after it was recovered and found no evidence of fuel in either fuel tank. Fuel did not flow from the gascolator when the strainer drain was placed in the open position. According to the pilot operator report there was no mechanical malfunction failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5580G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5580G-1996-06-13), registration cancelled 1996-06-13, S/N 15071080 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071080 - Airframe hours: 4800 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robinson, James E. - Registered owner: Robinson, J.E. And J.C. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 1994, 20 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SCV ## 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 19940731019709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940731019709A), Jul 31, 1994: Cessna 150J, Silver City, NM, Substantial damage. Departed on 8MILE flight to another airport. Ran out of fuel en route. Struck barbed wire fence. Nosed over landing ## Other investigations on N5580G (2) 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 FTW74DRG69](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74DRG69), Mar 20, 1974: Cessna 150J (N5580G), Seguin, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW74FRG28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74FRG28), Oct 19, 1973: Cessna 150J (N5580G), San Antonio, TX, substantial damage 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.