# NTSB LAX83LA198: Cessna 150J, N61327, San Jose, CA, April 11, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 10, 1983, 19:15 local (Apr 11, 1983, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Coordinates: 37.30965, -121.929595 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3096&lon=-121.9296&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: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23684/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA198

## 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 consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - incorrect (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS RENTED FOR A X-COUNTRY FLT FORM SAN JOSE, CA TO SAN LUIS OBISPO & GROVER CITY, CA, THEN RETURN TO SAN JOSE. THE PLT DEPARTED SAN JOSE WITH FULL FUEL TANKS. AT SAN LUIS OBISPO, 5.3 GAL WAS PURCHASED; HOWEVER, NO FUEL WAS OBTAINED AT GROVER CITY. ON THE RETURN FLT, THE ACFT LOST POWER & WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT, APRX 2 MI FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT. DURING A POST-CRASH EXAM, ONLY 2.5 TO 3 GAL OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL TANKS. ACCORDING TO THE FLT MANUAL, THE USABLE FUEL CAPACITY WAS 26 GAL, OF WHICH, 3.5 GAL WAS UNUSABLE. AT 7 GAL/HR, THE ACFT WOULD HAVE CONSUMED 27.8 GAL OF FUEL IN 3.97 HRS. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT FLT HR RECORDING METER, THE PLANE HAD FLOWN 4 HRS AFTER DEPARTING SAN JOSE. THE PLT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INDICATING APRX 1/4 & 1/2 FULL WHEN THE ENG LOST POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61327](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61327-1993-09-27), registration cancelled 1993-09-27, S/N 15070967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J
- Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15070967
- Airframe hours: 5957
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Amelia Reid
- Last inspection: Annual, December 13, 1982, 70 hours before
- Departed: L52, GROVER CITY, CA
- Destination: RHV, SAN JOSE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 182 total, 17 in this make and model, 138 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJC, 7 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 19830410016499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830410016499A), Apr 10, 1983: Cessna 150J, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. Crash occurred during emergency landing after engine quit from fuel exhaustion.

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.

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