# NTSB LAX02LA044: Cessna 150K, N6136G, Honolulu, HI, December 10, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 9, 2001, 17:45 local (Dec 10, 2001, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Honolulu, HI - Coordinates: 21.2775, -157.770828 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=21.2775&lon=-157.7708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-WP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53886 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53886/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA044 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and improper in-flight decision and planning. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - refueling - not performed, pilot in command - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot rented the airplane and did not fill the fuel tanks prior to taking off for a planned round-robin flight between the islands of Oahu and Lanai. The pilot spent about 30 minutes on the ground at Lanai during which time he did not check the quantity of fuel in the tanks. No fuel was obtained at Lanai, and the pilot attempted to fly back to Oahu. After flying a total of approximately 1.9 hours, fuel starvation occurred about 8 miles east of the pilot's intended destination, the Honolulu International Airport. The pilot made a forced landing in a park and during rollout the airplane collided with a mango tree. During the postimpact airplane examination, the undamaged right wing fuel tank was found containing several drops of fuel. The damaged (but not breached) left wing fuel tank contained about 1 quart of fuel. According to the Cessna Aircraft Company, the airplane's nominal fuel consumption rate is 6.0 gallons per hour, and its unusable fuel in all flight conditions is about 3.5 gallons. ## Factual narrative On December 9, 2001, about 1745 hours Hawaiian standard time, a Cessna 150K, N6136G, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot made a forced landing in a park on the Island of Oahu, and during rollout the airplane collided with a tree. The airplane was operated by Oahu Aviation Flight School, Inc., Honolulu, Hawaii, and it was substantially damaged. The private pilot received a minor injury, and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the dusk flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The round-robin flight originated from the Honolulu International Airport on Oahu about 1530. The pilot reported that he believed the airplane's fuel tanks were full, but he may have "misjudged" their actual quantity. After takeoff, the pilot flew to the Island of Lanai, and arrived there about 1620. While on Lanai, the pilot did not check the amount of fuel in the tanks. The pilot departed Lanai about 1650 and planned to return to Honolulu. The pilot reported that while en route the engine lost power. At the time, the fuel tank gauges registered slightly less than 1/2 full. Unable to reach his destination, the pilot made a forced landing in the Waialae Iki Park (about 8 miles east of the Honolulu International Airport). During rollout, the airplane collided with a mango tree. According to the operator, the pilot had been scheduled to rent the airplane between 1400 and 1600, but he had been delayed for undetermined reasons. The airplane's fuel tanks were not full upon the pilot's departure from Honolulu. The total time registered on the engine's tachometer (from Honolulu to Lanai to impact) was approximately 1.9 hours. The operator reported that after the accident the airplane was examined. The undamaged right wing fuel tank was found containing several drops of fuel. The damaged (but not breached) left wing fuel tank contained about 1 quart of fuel. The operator also stated that the airplane's engine burns approximately 6 gallons per hour. According to the Cessna Aircraft Company, the airplane's fuel tank capacity is 26 gallons. The total usable fuel in all flight conditions is 22.5 gallons. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6136G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6136G-2017-03-06), registration cancelled 2017-03-06, S/N 15071636, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150K - Registry model: [Cessna 150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (registry code 2071822) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071636 - Airframe hours: 9053 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Oahu Aviation Flight School, Inc. - Registered owner: Commercial Flyer, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 15, 2001 - Departed: LNY, Lanai, Hawaii, HI - Destination: HNL, Honolulu, HI - Airport: HNL, Honolulu ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; last flight review August 15, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 101 total, 4 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 70° at 12 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: HNL, 8 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 20011209037839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011209037839A), Dec 9, 2001: Cessna 150K, Honolulu, HI, No damage. (-23) The pilot stated on his return from a VFR cross-country flight from the island of lanai he experienced a total loss of power. The pilot made a forced… 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.