LAX00LA037

The pilot took off for a planned hour-long cross-country flight with 8 gallons of fuel onboard. After flying for about 53 minutes, all engine power was lost. The pilot made a forced landing on a city street, and during rollout the airplane impacted a sign pole and a dirt berm. During the subsequent airplane examination, no usable fuel was found in either of the airplane's fuel tanks. The pilot acknowledged that during the flight no mechanical problems were experienced with his airplane, and the total loss of engine power resulted from fuel exhaustion. The airplane was equipped with a 150-hp engine.

On November 19, 1999, about 0923 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 150K, N6199G, owned and operated by the pilot, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot made a forced landing on a city street in Phoenix, Arizona. During rollout, the airplane impacted a sign pole and a dirt berm. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot, who was the sole airplane occupant, nor anyone on the ground was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. It originated from Marana, Arizona, about 0830 with an intended destination of Glendale, Arizona.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that his airplane had evidently consumed more fuel than he anticipated during the hour-long flight. The airplane was equipped with a 150-hp Lycoming engine. The pilot stated that he made a forced landing following the total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator performed an on-scene examination of the airplane, and he verbally reported that no fuel was observed leaking from the wing tanks. The coordinator also reported that the minimal quantity of fuel found in the airplane's fuel tanks appeared to be in the airplane manufacturer's specified unusable range.

In the pilot's completed report, he indicated that no mechanical problems were experienced with his airplane. When he commenced the accident flight, the airplane's fuel tanks contained approximately 8 gallons of fuel.