# NTSB LAX94LA013: Cessna 150L, N150GS, Van Nuys, CA, October 15, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 14, 1993, 18:58 local (Oct 15, 1993, 01:58 UTC) - Place: Van Nuys, CA - Coordinates: 34.190372, -118.489242 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1904&lon=-118.4892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28569/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA013 ## Probable cause the pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation and fuel consumption calculations. Fuel exhaustion is a factor in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - poor, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - object - fence - object - vehicle ## Analysis THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT. WHEN THE PILOT WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT ADVISED THE LOCAL CONTROLLER AND WAS CLEARED FOR A STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO NEGOTIATE THE RUNWAY AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD ABOUT 1/4 MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 2.1 GALLONS. THE TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY IS 26 GALLONS OF WHICH 22.5 GALLONS ARE USABLE. DURING LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE. ## Factual narrative On October 14, 1993, at 1858 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N150GS, crashed short of runway 16R at Van Nuys Airport (VNY), Van Nuys, California, while executing an emergency landing. The emergency landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power. The pilot was completing a visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by Sussex Aviation, VNY, sustained substantial damage; a ground vehicle and a chain link fence were also damaged. Neither the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, nor the sole occupant in the ground vehicle was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Kingman Airport, Kingman, Arizona, at 1550 hours. Safety Board investigators reviewed the recorded communications tape at Van Nuys Airport Traffic Control Tower. The taped conversation between the pilot of the accident airplane and the local controller revealed the pilot called at 1751 hours. The local controller cleared the flight to enter a left downwind leg for runway 34L and assigned it a discrete transponder code. At 1754 hours, the local controller assigned the pilot a 2,800-foot mean sea level altitude and instructed the pilot to enter a direct downwind. The pilot responded that the airplane was experiencing engine problems and was going to execute a straight-in approach to runway 16R. The local controller cleared the flight to land on runway 16R. The pilot was unable to land on the runway. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the engine began experiencing problems, losing RPM's, and running rough while over the San Fernando Reservoir. The pilot advised the local controller and began a straight-in approach to runway 16R. During the emergency landing, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the pilot landed the airplane in an open field about 1/4 mile north of the airport. Mr. Clinton P. Ah You, Principal Maintenance Inspector, Federal Aviation Administration, Van Nuys Flight Standards District Office, conducted the on-scene investigation. Inspector Ah You reported that the fuel tanks were not damaged nor were the fuel lines compromised during the accident. He also stated that the fuel tanks contained very little fuel. Mr. B. Patel, Sussex Aviation, reported that both fuel tanks were drained and contained 2.1 gallons of fuel. The Cessna 150L Pilot's Operating Handbook reveals that the airplane fuel tanks hold 26 gallons of fuel of which 22.5 gallons are usable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N150GS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N150GS-2012-06-27), registration cancelled 2012-06-27, S/N 15073824 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15073824 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sussex Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1992, 75 hours before - Departed: IGM, KINGMAN, AZ - Destination: VNY - Airport: VNY, Van Nuys, runway 16R, 8,001 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 175 total, 27 in this make and model, 97 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: VNY, 1 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 19931014052139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931014052139A), Oct 14, 1993: Cessna 150L, Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. Engine lost power approaching airport. Struck fence and vehicle landing short. No useable fuel on board. 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.