# NTSB FTW99LA257: Cessna 150J, N50495, Frisco, TX, September 13, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 1999, 19:40 local (Sep 13, 1999, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Frisco, TX - Coordinates: 33.139263, -96.809059 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1393&lon=-96.8091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47308 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47308/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA257 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight and his failure to refuel the airplane. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the 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, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis Following a touch and go landing, the airplane was climbing out when, at about 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. During the forced landing in a field covered by tall grass, the nose landing gear dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. The owner stated that there was no evidence of fuel leakage under the wings, and he was not able to smell fuel at the accident site. According to the airplane's hour meter, the airplane had flown for 3.2 hours since its last fuel servicing. The 1,060-hour flight instructor reported that he did not visually check the fuel quantity prior to the flight, since the student receiving instruction reported to him that the fuel tanks were 'half full.' ## Factual narrative On September 12, 1999, at 1940 central daylight time, a Cessna 150J airplane, N50495, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Frisco, Texas. The flight instructor and the student pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was owned by a private individual and was being operated by Classic Aviation, Inc., of Dallas, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from the Addison Airport, near Dallas, Texas, approximately 40 minutes prior to the accident. According to local law enforcement personnel, who responded to the accident site, the flight instructor reported that the student performed a touch and go landing on runway 17 at the Frisco Airport. The flight instructor added that while the airplane was climbing out when, at about 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the engine lost power without warning. The flight instructor stated that he took control of the airplane and turned westbound in an attempt to land in an open field covered by tall grass. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. The owner of the airplane reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and portions of the elevator sustained structural damage. The owner stated that there was no evidence of fuel leakage under the wings, and he did not smell fuel at the accident site. The operator stated that the airplane was last topped off with 11.7 gallons of 100 LL aviation fuel at 1318 in the afternoon. According to the airplane's hour meter, the airplane had been flown for 3.2 hours since its last fuel servicing. The 1,060-hour flight instructor reported that he did not visually check the fuel quantity prior to the flight, since the student receiving instruction reported to him that the fuel tanks were "half full." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50495](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50495-2002-06-13), registration cancelled 2002-06-13, S/N 15069345, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 150-69345 - Airframe hours: 1400 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Classic Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Paul D. Sewell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 1999, 100 hours before - Departed: DDJ, FRISCO, TX - Destination: ADS, ADDISON, TX - Airport: DDJ, Frisco Municipal, runway 17, 5,200 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,060 total, 600 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 19990912042749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990912042749A), Sep 12, 1999: Cessna 150J, Frisco, TX, No damage. (-23) On September 12, 1999, at 1940 CDT, a Cessna 150J airplane, N50495, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power… 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.