FTW99LA065

The recently certificated private pilot reported that the engine lost power while on final approach to an airport, 3 hours after takeoff for a local flight. The pilot and his father performed a 25 minute flight in the local area in the same airplane earlier that morning. They planned for a 1.5 hour flight in the afternoon. He reported checking the fuel quantity with a stick and estimated to have enough fuel for a 2.5 to 3.0 hour flight. The pilot stated that he encountered strong winds while in the local area that drifted him further east than he anticipated. The airplane came to rest on the shoulder of a county road, approximately 850 feet from the landing threshold for runway 36. No evidence of fuel was found at the accident site.

On January 8, 1999, at 1715 central standard time, a Cessna 150M airplane, N66464, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during final approach near Madisonville, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Bryan Aviation, Inc., of Bryan, Texas. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight, for which a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated from the Coulter Field Airport (CFO), near Bryan, Texas, approximately 3 hours prior to the accident.

In the enclosed statement, the 54-hour private pilot reported that he performed a 25 minutes local area flight with his father in the same airplane on the morning of the accident. The pilot and his father returned to the airport again in the afternoon to perform another local area flight which the pilot planned would take about 1.5 hours. The pilot added that during his preflight inspection he used the airplane's "metered stick" to visually check the quantity of fuel available in the fuel tanks. The pilot acknowledged that the fuel level was "slightly below" the "Max 2" mark (indicating maximum fuel for 2 passengers), which the pilot estimated to be enough fuel for 2.5 to 3.0 hours of flight.

The pilot stated that while in the local area "stronger winds had come in and we were blown further east than I anticipated." The pilot added that he was able to locate the Madisonville Municipal Airport (51R) and headed in that direction to land. The pilot further stated that he elected to land at Madisonville to determine "the amount useable fuel remaining on board" as well as "to plot a return flight to Coulter Field." The NTSB investigator in charge (IIC) established that the distance from 51R to CFO was 22.9 nautical miles.

While on final approach for Runway 36 at the Madisonville Municipal Airport, while about one mile from the touchdown area the "engine began coughing" and subsequently lost power. During the ensuing forced landing, the left wing collided with the trunk of a tree, resulting in a 180 degree change of direction. The airplane came to rest on the shoulder of a county road, approximately 850 feet short of the landing threshold for runway 36.

Examination of the wreckage of the 1974 model aircraft by the FAA inspector revealed that the left wing separated from the airframe and the fuselage was buckled behind the baggage compartment. The cabin area of the airplane was not compromised during the accident sequence. The inspector credited the fact that the airplane had been retrofitted with shoulder harnesses for both occupants, preventing serious injuries.

The airplane was not refueled after the first morning flight. The inspector reported that no evidence of usable fuel was found at the accident site. In the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 the pilot stated that the airplane's "electrical fuel gages do not function properly."