# NTSB LAX01LA192: Cessna 150H, N23474, Mariposa, CA, May 25, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 2001, 15:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Mariposa, CA - Coordinates: 37.489658, -120.000808 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4897&lon=-120.0008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FLT STNDS DIST OFFICE - NTSB case key (mKey): 52360 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52360/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA192 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly refuel the aircraft which resulted in departure with an inadequate quantity of fuel onboard. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and planning, which failed to provide an adequate fuel reserve for the flight intended. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - improperly serviced - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - refueling - improper, pilot in command (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion after 2.1 hours of flight and 16-miles before reaching the intended destination. The pilot attributed the fuel exhaustion to an interruption that occurred during his (self) fueling of the aircraft, which resulted in the fuel tanks not being totally full on takeoff. As he was filling the left wing fuel tank before takeoff, the pilot was interrupted by another pilot who asked his assistance with operation of the self-fueling equipment. He completed filling the left tank and stopped to assist the other pilot. He returned to his airplane about 10 or 15 minutes later, filled the right-wing tank, and departed. The pilot believed that, during the interruption, a portion of the fuel in the left tank flowed across the aircraft to the right tank and, after he filled the right tank, the left tank was approximately 5 gallons below capacity. He reported making the same trip regularly. Assuming a zero to 5-knot headwind, the trip routinely required 20.3 or 20.4 gallons to complete. The aircraft had been modified to install a larger engine than the original and had a 24-gallon usable fuel capacity. The pilot reported that, on past flights at the same altitude and power setting, the engine consumed 9.17 gallons per hour (2.6 hours endurance). ## Factual narrative On May 25, 2001, at 1520 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N23474, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing following loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion near Mariposa, California. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was being operated by the owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The personal cross-country flight departed Whiteman Airport, Los Angeles, California, at 1315, and was destined for Pine Mountain Lake airport at Groveland, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. In his report to the Safety Board, the pilot stated that the engine stopped after 2.1 hours of flight, when the airplane was about 16 miles from the destination and with the fuel gauges indicating 1/8 full. He attributed the fuel exhaustion to an interruption that occurred during his (self) fueling of the aircraft, which resulted in the fuel tanks not being totally full on takeoff. The pilot reported that, as he was filling the left wing fuel tank before takeoff, he was interrupted by another pilot who asked his assistance with operation of the self-fueling equipment. He completed filling the left tank and stopped to assist the other pilot. He returned to his airplane about 10 or 15 minutes later, filled the right-wing tank, and departed. In his report, he stated he believed that, during the interruption, a portion of the fuel in the left tank flowed across the aircraft to the right tank and, after he filled the right tank, the left tank was approximately 5 gallons below capacity. The aircraft had been modified to install a larger engine than the original and had a 24-gallon usable fuel capacity. The pilot reported making the trip between Whiteman and Pine Mountain Lake regularly. Assuming a zero to 5-knot headwind, the trip routinely required 20.3 or 20.4 gallons to complete. He reported that, on past flights at the same altitude and power setting, the engine consumed 9.17 gallons per hour (2.6 hours endurance). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N23474](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23474-2013-08-27), registration cancelled 2013-08-27, S/N 15068974, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15068974 - Airframe hours: 1830 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Louis Elsworth Fricke Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 2001, 21 hours before - Departed: WHP, LOS ANGELES, CA - Destination: Q68, GROVELAND, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 1, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 3,978 total, 500 in this make and model, 3,943 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KMER, 25 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 20010525009849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010525009849A), May 25, 2001: Cessna 150H, Matiposa, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Louis e. fricke, pilot-in-command of N23474, a CE-150-H departed from whiteman field (whp), CA enroute to pine mountain lake (Q68) CA. 15 miles… 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.