# NTSB GAA20CA010: Cessna 150, N50618, Fallon, NV, October 8, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 7, 2019, 19:30 local (Oct 8, 2019, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Fallon, NV - Coordinates: 39.499168, -118.748886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4992&lon=-118.7489&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100407 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100407/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100407 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA010 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning and quantity inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, a forced landing on unsuitable terrain, and a subsequent 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 · Inadequate inspection (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 · 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) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); 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) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the preflight inspection, the fuel gauges indicated that each tank was half full. The pilot did not visually inspect the fuel tanks to verify the fuel gauges' indicated reading. After a 40-minute local flight, the engine lost power as the pilot was turning the airplane onto the base leg of the airport traffic pattern. The pilot recalled that the fuel gauge indicated that 1/4 tank of fuel remained. He made a forced landing in a flat attitude in a desert. The nose landing gear dug into the soft, dry surface, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He added that the accident could have been prevented if he had visually inspected the fuel tanks using a fuel stick to assess the fuel quantity. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection, the fuel gauges indicated that each tank was half-full. The pilot did not visually inspect the fuel tanks to verify the fuel gauge's indicated reading. After a 40-minute local flight, the engine lost power during the right turn to the base leg of the airport traffic pattern. The pilot recalled that airplane's fuel gauge indicated that ¼ of the fuel capacity remained. He forced landed in a "flat" attitude on the desert. The nose landing gear dug into the soft, dry surface and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to horizontal stabilizer and the rudder. Additionally, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by visually inspecting the fuel tanks using a fuel stick to assess the airplane's fuel quantity. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50618](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50618), registered now, S/N 15069437, built 1968 (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: 15069437 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 5189 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 19, 2019 - Departed: FLX, Fallon, NV - Destination: FLX, Fallon, NV - Airport: FLX, Fallon Muni, runway 21, 5,705 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; last flight review January 8, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 670 total, 630 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KQAV, 5 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 20191007018999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191007018999A), Oct 7, 2019: Cessna 150J, Fallon, NV, Substantial damage. Flight departed flx at approximately 1930 PST. Aircraft flew north west over local reservoir damn and turned back towards airport. Aircraft turned right base… ## Other investigations on N50618 (2) 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 SEA84LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84LA183), Jul 25, 1984: Cessna 150J (N50618), Burley, ID, substantial damage - [NTSB SEA71FDA12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA71FDA12), Jan 20, 1971: Cessna 150 (N50618), Billings, MT, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100407. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.