- Date
- November 6, 1994, 15:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place
- Radium Springs, NM
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6692SCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 18, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941106037499A
- Case key
- 19299
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
Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.
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
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO AT 0731 AND LANDED IN ALBUQUERQUE AT 0902. THE FLIGHT THEN DEPARTED FOR SANTA FE AT 1000 ARRIVING AT 1035. A RETURN FLIGHT TO ALBUQUERQUE WAS INITIATED AT 1105 AND ARRIVED AT 1150. EIGHT GALLONS OF FUEL WERE ADDED PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE FOR LAS CRUCES, THE FINAL LEG OF HIS FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE 'ESTIMATED A TOTAL FUEL REQUIREMENT OF 25.5 GALLONS' FOR THE FLIGHT. THE 'AIRCRAFT HOLDS 22.5 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL' SO AN 'ADDITIONAL RIGHT GALLONS OF FUEL (WAS) ADDED FOR A TOTAL OF 30.5 GALLONS, FIVE GALLONS RESERVE EQUIVALENT TO 1.2 HOUR RESERVE.' THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AlBUQUERQUE AT 1300. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT 1510 HE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN IT CROSSED AN 8 INCH DEEP IRRIGATION DITCH. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT THE 'ENGINE QUIT DUE TO THE LACK OF FUEL.'
Factual narrative
On November 6, 1994, at 1510 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150M, N6692S, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Radium Springs, New Mexico. The student pilot was not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo cross country instructional flight. A VFR flight plan was filed.
In the Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that the solo cross country flight originated in Las Cruces, New Mexico at 0731 and landed in Albuquerque at 0902. The flight then departed for Santa Fe at 1000 arriving at 1035. A return flight to Albuquerque was initiated at 1105 and arrived at 1150. The pilot then stated that an additional eight gallons of fuel were added prior to his departure for Las Cruces, the final leg of his flight. According to the pilot, he "estimated a total fuel requirement of 25.5 gallons" for the flight. The "aircraft holds 22.5 gallons of usable fuel" so an "additional eight gallons of fuel [was] added for a total of 30.5 gallons, five gallons reserve equivalent to 1.2 hour reserve." The aircraft departed Albuquerque at 1300.
The pilot reported taht at 1510 the he experienced a total loss of engine power. He executed a forced landing to a field and the nose gear collapsed when it crossed an 8 inch deep irrigation ditch. The pilot further stated that the "engine quit due to the lack of fuel."
According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the wreckage, there was no evidence of fuel in the system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6692S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15067492
- Airframe hours
- 4,123
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Busick, Robert
- Registered owner
- West Mesa Flying Association
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 30, 1994 · 72 hours before
- Departed
- ABQ · Albuquerque, NM
- Destination
- LRU · Las Cruces, NM
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 41
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 35 total · 35 in this make and model · 19 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.