# NTSB FTW95LA400: Cessna 150K, N5DT, Victoria, TX, September 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 16, 1995, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Victoria, TX - Coordinates: 28.819133, -96.980041 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8191&lon=-96.9800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19586 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19586/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA400 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR WAS THE 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, approach - vfr pattern - base turn - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - water - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED HIS 'FUEL CONSUMPTION WAS HIGHER THAN NORMAL' ON THE CROSS COUNTRY TRIP FROM FRANKSTON, TEXAS, TO VICTORIA, TEXAS. HE LANDED SHORT OF VICTORIA AT HALLETSVILLE AND PERFORMED A 'VISUAL' CHECK OF THE TANKS WHICH SHOWED 'ONE QUARTER IN EACH TANK.' THE HALLETSVILLE AIRPORT 'WAS DESERTED' AND HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE ON TO VICTORIA WITHOUT REFUELING. WHILE ON BASE LEG FOR LANDING AT VICTORIA, THE PILOT MADE A 360 DEGREE TURN FOR SPACING. UPON COMPLETION OF THE TURN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A WATER-FILLED RICE FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE AIRPLANE, 'ONE QUARTER IN EACH TANK' EQUATES TO A TOTAL OF 3 GALLONS USABLE FUEL. CALCULATIONS BASED ON THE MANUFACTURER'S PERFORMANCE DATA INDICATED THE 25 MINUTE FLIGHT FROM HALLETSVILLE TO VICTORIA REQUIRED APPROXIMATELY 3 GALLONS OF FUEL. ## Factual narrative On September 16, 1995, at 1345 central daylight time, a Cessna 150K, N5DT, nosed over during a forced landing near Victoria, Texas. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot was not injured. The personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 departed Halletsville, Texas, at 1320. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported he intended to fly from Frankston, Texas, to Corpus Christi, Texas, with a "fuel stop" in Victoria. "Fuel consumption was higher than normal" and he landed short of Victoria at Hallettsville, Texas, for a "rest stop and fuel check." He performed a "visual check" of the fuel tanks which showed "one quarter in each tank." The airport at Halletsville "was deserted" and the pilot elected to continue on to Victoria without refueling. While on base leg for landing on runway 17 at Victoria, the pilot saw another aircraft on a "four mile final." Following completion of a "360 [degree] turn for spacing," the engine lost power. The pilot landed the airplane short of the runway in a water-filled rice field and it nosed over. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane came to rest inverted in approximately 18 inches of water. The firewall, engine mount, cowling, propeller and left wing tip were damaged. Water immersion prevented determination of the quantity of fuel in the wing tanks. According to the manufacturer's specifications for the airplane, "one quarter in each tank" equates to a total of 3 gallons usable fuel. Calculations based on the manufacturer's performance data indicated the 25 minute flight from Halletsville to Victoria required approximately 3 gallons of fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5DT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5DT), registered now, S/N 15071977, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150K - Registry model: [Cessna 150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (registry code 2071822) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071977 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas L. Boudreau - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 1995, 3 hours before - Departed: 34R, HALLETSVILLE, TX - Destination: VCT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 307 total, 199 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °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 19950916033129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950916033129A), Sep 16, 1995: Cessna 150K, Victoria, TX, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel in destination pattern. Landed water filled rice field. Made stop en route but no fuel available. 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.