# NTSB GAA16CA432: Cessna 150, N7157X, North Conway, NH, August 15, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2016, 10:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: North Conway, NH - Coordinates: 44.034721, -71.126388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0347&lon=-71.1264&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 22, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93844 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA432 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93844/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93844 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA432 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, a forced landing, and nose over. ## 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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 1,696 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 1,398 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 1,696 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 805 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 3,368 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071804), [All aircraft, 2,290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while en-route to his destination airport, he saw a "small area of rain" ahead. He further reported that he "circled around for a while" awaiting for the weather to clear, but during the circling he "ran out of fuel" and the engine lost power. Subsequently, the pilot landed in a corn field and the airplane nosed over. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while en-route to his destination airport, he saw a "small area of rain" ahead. He further reported that he "circled around for a while" awaiting for the weather to clear, but during the circling he "ran out of fuel" and the engine lost power. Subsequently, the pilot landed in a corn field and the airplane nosed over. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7157X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7157X), registered now, S/N 15059257, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 150A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150a) (registry code 2071804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15059257 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 8497 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 24, 2016 - Departed: MSS, MASSENA, NY - Destination: HIE, WHITEFIELD, NH - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2016; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 430 total, 175 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: KHIE, 26 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 20160815024059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160815024059A), Aug 15, 2016: Cessna 150A, North Conway, NH, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he had departed from massena, NY where he had fueled the aircraft, then took off approximately 0900, enroute to final destination of… ## Other investigations on N7157X (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC70D0060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC70D0060), Apr 4, 1969: Cessna 150 (N7157X), Rochester, NH, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93844. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444237&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.