# NTSB GAA18CA514: Cessna 150, N1701Q, Eldorado, TX, August 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 26, 2018, 19:00 local (Aug 27, 2018, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Eldorado, TX - Coordinates: 30.907222, -100.899719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9072&lon=-100.8997&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98170 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA514 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98170/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98170 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA514 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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 150L, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071826), [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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/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 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he departed with 26 gallons of fuel. He added that, about 3.5 hours into the flight, he asked flight following where the closest airports were because he had become concerned that he was "near the fuel limit." During their exchange, the engine lost power. He declared an emergency, rocked the wings, applied full-rich mixture, and restarted the engine, "which worked [for] 15 seconds or less." He then conducted an emergency landing near the end of a road, and the airplane bounced, veered left, impacted a pipe, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he departed with 26 gallons of fuel. He added that, about 3.5 hours enroute, he asked flight following where the closest airports were because he had become concerned he was "near the fuel limit". During their exchange, the engine lost power. He declared an emergency, rocked the wings, applied full rich mixture, and restarted the engine, "which worked 15 seconds or less". During the emergency approach, he landed on a road. He landed near the end of the road, the airplane bounced, veered to the left, impacted a pipe, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1701Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1701Q-2025-01-29), registration cancelled 2025-01-29, S/N 15073001, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15073001 - Year built: 1971 - Engines: Continental O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LVJ, Houston, TX - Destination: PEQ, Pecos, TX - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 250 total, 110 in this make and model, 180 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KOZA, 19 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 20180826024339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180826024339A), Aug 26, 2018: Cessna 150L, Eldorado, TX, Substantial damage. While enroute lvj to pec, pilot ran out of fuel 15 west of Eldorado Texas and landed on an access road striking a 10 inch oil pipe laid on the surface causing… ## Other investigations on N1701Q (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 CEN24FA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA188), May 16, 2024: Cessna 150L (N1701Q), Godley, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while practicing a power-on stall, which resulted in an inadvertent spin at an altitude from which he was unable to recover. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 27, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98170. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468552&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468553&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.