# NTSB IAD97LA090: Cessna 150, N8080S, Punxsutawney, PA, June 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 1997, 14:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Punxsutawney, PA - Coordinates: 40.940731, -78.970024 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9407&lon=-78.9700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28206/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA090 ## Probable cause Pilot in command became disoriented and continued flight until fuel exhaustion. A factor to this accident is the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision by over flying several airports during his disorientation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel system - exhaustion (cause) - became lost/disoriented - continued, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, cruise - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The private pilot/owner departed the airport with full fuel tanks. He flew 95 miles and was on his return leg when he became disoriented. He stated that his wet compass and directional gyro were not correct. The pilot ran the engine at red line on the rpm gauge until 10 minutes prior to engine loss of power. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot executed a forced landing to a strip mining access road. Examination of the wreckage revealed only unusable fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. No mechanical anomalies were found with the airframe or engine. The pilot reported that he was airborne for 3 hours and 25 minutes. ## Factual narrative On June 15, about 1405 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N8080S, was substantially damaged as it impacted the terrain during a forced landing near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot/owner was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Butler Farm Show Airport (3G9), at 1040. The private pilot departed 3G9 and flew 95 miles to the northeast to a private landing strip near Port Allegheny. The pilot recently bought the airplane and used this trip as a familiarization flight. On his return leg to 3G9, the pilot became disoriented and stated that the wet compass and directional gyro were not correct. With nothing but high and rough terrain all around, the pilot set course for his last known observed airport using a "topographical reference point." He stated that he was on course using the reference point when the engine stopped. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot executed a forced landing to the top of a mountain strip mining road. On June 16, 1997, two Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors examined the wreckage. Their examination revealed that the nose wheel buckled under the fuselage and the right main landing gear was bent aft approximately 30 degrees. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers were bent, and the right elevator had separated from the airplane. Both fuel tanks were examined and only unusable fuel remained in the right main tank. When the Inspectors interviewed the pilot, he stated that he departed with full fuel tanks and was airborne for about 3 hours and 30 minutes. He stated that he passed a couple of airports while he was lost, but never thought he had a problem until 30 minutes of fuel remained. When asked what power setting he used during the flight, the pilot replied that the previous owner stated that he should run the engine at "full bore". The pilot stated that he red lined the rpm gauge for the entire flight. He did not reduce the power until approximately 10 minutes prior to loss of power, when one fuel gauge read empty and the other indicated full. The Cessna Owners Manual indicated that with Standard fuel tanks (22.5 gallons useable) with lean mixture, at 2,500 to 5,000 feet, and with 2,750 rpm set, the endurance was between 3.2 and 3.5 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8080S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8080S-1998-03-05), registration cancelled 1998-03-05, S/N 15061680 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 150-61680 - Airframe hours: 3408 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clyde William Triplett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 17, 1997, 9 hours before - Departed: 3G9, BUTLER, PA - Destination: NONE, PORT ALLEGANY, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 122 total, 14 in this make and model, 47 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PIT, 65 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 19970615047829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970615047829A), Jun 15, 1997: Cessna 150F, Punxsutawney, PA, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot became disoriented and experienced fuel exhaustion. Forced landing on a logging road, in gaskill township, jefferson county. [privacy data omitted] ## Other investigations on N8080S (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 NYC67F0697](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC67F0697), May 30, 1967: Cessna 150 (N8080S), E.Farmingdale, NY, substantial damage 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.