LAX96LA011

Shortly before the accident, the pilot contacted Fullerton ATCT and requested assistance in finding the airport. Transcripts of air-to-ground communications and verbal statements from the controllers indicated that the pilot seemed disoriented. The pilot reported losing engine power at a point about 8 miles east of the airport. The airplane collided with power lines during a forced landing. The aircraft recovery firm who picked up the aircraft reported that the fuel system was intact. Two gallons of fuel was drained from the right tank, and about 4 ounces from the left. The pilot said that a higher than anticipated fuel consumption was due to insufficient mixture leaning and the use of a higher rpm setting than planned in order to maintain a desired airspeed.

On October 15, 1995, at 2034 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N704QJ, collided with power lines and a fence during an attempted forced landing in Brea, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of power as the aircraft was attempting to find the Fullerton, California, airport. The aircraft was operated by the Long Beach Flying Club of Long Beach, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from the Long Beach airport on the day of the accident at 1330 hours as an intended round robin cross-country flight to Las Vegas, Nevada, and return. The time of departure from Las Vegas was about 1735.

The pilot is a citizen of Aruba and holds a private pilot certificate issued by that State which prohibits flight at night. He also holds a temporary United States private pilot certificate, issued on the basis of the Arubian certificate, which also prohibits flight at night. The pilot's flight instructor stated that the accident pilot had received about 4 1/2 hours of night dual from him and he seemed confident with night operations. No record of the night restriction being removed was located.

On the return flight from Las Vegas and shortly before the accident, the pilot contacted Fullerton ATCT and requested assistance in finding the airport. Transcripts of air-to-ground communications and verbal statements from the controllers indicated that the pilot seemed disoriented. The pilot reported losing engine power at a point about 8 miles east of the airport. The airplane collided with power lines while attempting a forced landing.

An aircraft recovery firm who picked up the aircraft reported that the fuel system was intact. Two gallons of fuel was drained from the right tank and about 4 ounces from the left. Comparison of the aircraft recording tachometer by the operator revealed that the aircraft was flown 5.9 hours since departure from Long Beach. Records indicate that the accident aircraft was fueled while on the ground in Las Vegas with 20.7 gallons.

In his written statement, the pilot noted that a higher than anticipated fuel consumption was due to insufficient mixture leaning and the use of a higher rpm setting than planned in order to maintain a desired airspeed.