# NTSB LAX96LA011: Cessna 150M, N704QJ, Brea, CA, October 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 1995, 20:34 local (Oct 16, 1995, 03:34 UTC) - Place: Brea, CA - Location: 33.9252° N, 117.8651° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brea, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9252&lon=-117.8651&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29309/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA011 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper leaning procedures and his failure to use the performance charts in the pilot operating handbook to determine fuel consumption rates for the selected cruise power setting. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - performance data - not used, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - light condition - dark night - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N704QJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704QJ-2021-02-27), registration cancelled 2021-02-27, S/N 15078787, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078787 - Airframe hours: 9471 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Long Beach Flying Club - Registered owner: Candace A. Larned Enterprises - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 30, 1995, 44 hours before - Departed: GVT, LAS VEGAS, NV - Destination: LGB, LONG BEACH, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 97 total, 5 in this make and model, 47 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FUL, 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 19951015047119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951015047119A), Oct 15, 1995: Cessna 150M, Fullerton, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power. Struck power lines and fence landing. Was circling to find airport. Fuel exhaustion. Not night licensed ## Other investigations on N704QJ (2) 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. - [NTSB WPR20LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA022), Nov 13, 2019: Cessna 150 (N704QJ), Red Rock, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper use of carburetor heat. - [NTSB LAX00LA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA237), Jun 21, 2000: Cessna 150M (N704QJ), El Monte, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate maintenance inspection by other maintenance personnel of the exhaust system that resulted in an eroded muffler that allowed hot gases to impinge on magneto wiring and resulted in loss… 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.