# NTSB GAA16CA267: Cessna 150, N60252, Albuquerque, NM, May 27, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 27, 2016, 14:09 local (20:09 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.020557, -106.587776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0206&lon=-106.5878&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 31, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93280 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93280/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93280 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA267 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate preflight inspection/planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that while on a cross country flight the airplane's engine started to "sputter" and then stopped. During the off airport forced landing the airplane impacted a ravine. According to the student pilot, prior to the loss of engine power, there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The airplane recovery specialist reported that he drained about two gallons of fuel from the airplane's fuel tanks prior to the airplane being moved. According to the manufacturer the airplane has 3 gallons of unusable fuel. As a safety recommendation the student pilot reported that he should have visually inspected the fuel with a fuel hawk dipstick. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that while on a cross country flight the airplane's engine started to "sputter" and then stopped. During the off airport forced landing the airplane impacted a ravine. According to the student pilot, prior to the loss of engine power, there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The airplane recovery specialist reported that he drained about two gallons of fuel from the airplane's fuel tanks prior to the airplane being moved. According to the manufacturer the airplane has 3 gallons of unusable fuel. As a safety recommendation the student pilot reported that he should have visually inspected the fuel with a fuel hawk dipstick. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60252](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60252-2019-03-25), registration cancelled 2019-03-25, S/N 15070173 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (J) - 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: 15070173 - Year built: 1969 - Engines: CONT Motor O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ONM, SOCORRO, NM - Destination: AEG, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ABQ, Albuquerque Intl Sunport, runway 30, 6,000 × 150 ft, concrete - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 14 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KABQ, 2 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 20160527009779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160527009779A), May 27, 2016: Cessna 150J, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. On 05/27/2016, at approximately 1433 mountain time, a Cessna 150-J aircraft bearing registration number N60252 registered to [privacy data omitted] impacted… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93280. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443286&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Phone Conversation (Air Transport) (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443287&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Air%20Transport)-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443288&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.