# NTSB FTW97LA072: Cessna 150M, N66773, Austin, TX, December 25, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 25, 1996, 12:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Austin, TX - Coordinates: 30.299037, -97.690078 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2990&lon=-97.6901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20136 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20136/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA072 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as result of the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing and the pilot's improper preflight inspection of the fuel system. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,transmission - object - residence - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to tower personnel at the airport, the pilot declared an emergency due to a low fuel state. Within minutes the engine was reported to have lost power, and the pilot announced that he was attempting to execute a forced landing in a local high school field approximately 1 mile southeast of the airport. The airplane missed the field, collided with power lines, and subsequently impacted an unoccupied residence in a nose low attitude. The pilot stated that he departed Addison at approximately 1000 hours with the fuel gages reading between 3/4 and full. The pilot added that he navigated to Austin at 4,000 feet MSL, and based on the smoke being emitted from a fire near a lake, he determined that he had a tailwind. A detailed examination of the airplane's fuel system confirmed that no usable fuel was present in either fuel cell. The distance between Addison, Texas, and Austin, Texas, is 166.2 nautical miles. ## Factual narrative On December 25, 1996, at 1205 central standard time, a Cessna 150M airplane, N66773, was substantially damaged upon impact with a house during a forced landing near Austin, Texas. The non-instrument rated private pilot sustained minor injuries and his passenger was uninjured. The airplane, owned by a private owner, was being operated by Addison Air Training Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed from Addison, Texas, at approximately 1000. According to tower personnel at the Robert Mueller Airport in Austin, Texas, the pilot declared an emergency due to a low fuel state. The engine was reported to have lost power and the pilot announced that he was attempting to execute a forced landing in a local high school field approximately one mile southeast of the airport. The airplane missed the field, collided with power lines, and subsequently impacted an unoccupied residence in a nose low attitude. On the enclosed NTSB pilot/operator report, the pilot stated that he departed Addison at approximately 1000, with the fuel gages reading between 3/4 and full. The pilot stated that a student pilot told him that there was some fluid leaking on the nose wheel tire. The pilot further stated that his wife later told him that she had observed the same condition prior to getting in the airplane. Prior to leaving the ramp area, the flight instructor told the pilot "not to worry." The pilot added that he navigated to Austin at 4,000 feet MSL, and based on the smoke being emitted from a fire near a lake, he determined that he had a tailwind. Examination of the 1974 model airplane by the FAA inspector confirmed that both wings and the airframe sustained structural damage. A detailed examination of the airplane's fuel system confirmed that no usable fuel was present in either fuel cell. The distance between Addison and Austin, Texas, is 166.2 nautical miles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66773](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66773-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 15076267, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15076267 - Airframe hours: 4000 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lemoin D. Watkins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 5, 1996, 25 hours before - Departed: ADS, ADDISON, TX - Destination: AUS, AUSTIN, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 168 total, 65 in this make and model, 104 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AUS, 1 nm away ## 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 19961225040199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961225040199A), Dec 25, 1996: Cessna 150M, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. Near destination aus declared low fuel state. Tried for field. Hit wires and house. Fuel tanks were empty. (-23) pilot stated that he checked fuel on board… 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.