# NTSB FTW95LA097: Cessna 150M, N704CH, Prescott, AR, January 20, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 19, 1995, 18:30 local (Jan 20, 1995, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Prescott, AR
- Coordinates: 33.799468, -93.380043 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7995&lon=-93.3800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 23, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19341
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19341/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA097

## Probable cause

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S DISORIENTATION AND LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A 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
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - object - fence

## Analysis

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS OF CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PRIVATE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD DIFFICULTY LOCATING HIS INTENDED DESTINATION AND WAS DIVERTING TO ANOTHER AIRFIELD WHEN THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE EXECUTED A 'SMOOTH LANDING' IN A FARMER'S FIELD; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BARBED WIRE FENCE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 435 FEET OF LANDING ROLL. AFTER STRIKING THE FENCE, THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. DURING AIRCRAFT RECOVERY, NO USABLE FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS.

## Factual narrative

On January 19, 1995, approximately 1830 central standard time, a Cessna 150, N704CH, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in the vicinity of Prescott, Arkansas.  The private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight.

During an interview, the pilot stated that after "topping off the fuel tanks", he departed Terrell, Texas (TRL) on a flight to Hope, Arkansas.  He stated that he had difficulty locating the airport at Hope and decided to divert to Kizer Field (4F7), near Prescott, Arkansas.  While searching for 4F7, the "airplane ran out of fuel and landed in a pasture."  The pilot reported that the landing was "smooth."  However, after approximately 435 feet of landing roll, the airplane struck a barbed wire fence and came to rest inverted.  During aircraft recovery, no usable fuel was found in the fuel tanks.  The pilot reported that he was airborne approximately 2 hours after departing TRL.  He further related that he should have had about 1 hour of fuel remaining and "could not account for excessive fuel use."

## Aircraft

- Registration: N704CH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078615
- Airframe hours: 4807
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Youngblood, Marion A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1994, 4 hours before
- Departed: T67, TERRELL, TX
- Destination: M18, HOPE, AR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 441 total, 237 in this make and model, 156 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TXK, 40 nm away

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.