# NTSB MIA00LA100: Cessna 150H, N6753S, Dandridge, TN, February 28, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 28, 2000, 17:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Dandridge, TN - Coordinates: 36.019351, -83.409057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0194&lon=-83.4091&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48705 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48705/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA100 ## Probable cause the student pilot's improper preflight that resulted in his operating an aircraft with contaminated fuel that resulted in a loss of engine power and a forced landing in the trees and damage to the aircraft. Contributing to the accident were the student's continued flight with known engine problems and his not performing a precautionary landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause) - precautionary landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The student pilot said that the airplane's engine had been operating roughly, and had sputtered a few times during the flight, so he decided to land at his private landing strip and have his mechanic work on the engine. As he was maneuvering to land, the student said the engine sputtered again, so he pulled the primer out and pushed it back in and it ran a little, but knew he was not going to make it to the landing strip, so he made a forced landing in the trees. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors revealed that the fuel in the gascolator was cloudy, orange in color, and contained a small quantity of water. The inspectors also said they found corrosion as well as sediment that appeared to be fuel tank sealant in the gascolator bowl. When they removed the fuselage fuel drain, almost pure water came out of the drain. ## Factual narrative . On February 28, 2000, about 1750 central standard time, a Cessna 150H, N6753S, registered to and operated by a private owner, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in Dandridge, Tennessee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane incurred substantial damage, and the student pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated in Morristown, Tennessee, the same day, about 1730. The student pilot stated that he was en route to Sevierville, Tennessee, and the airplane's engine had been operating roughly, and had sputtered a few times. The student further stated that because of the engine problems he was having, he decided to land the airplane at his private landing strip, where he could have his mechanic work on the engine. As he was maneuvering to land, he said the engine sputtered again, so he pulled the primer out and pushed it back in and it ran a little, but knew he was not going to make it to the landing strip, so he committed himself to landing in the trees. He said he stalled the airplane at treetop level, putting it into the trees, empennage first. The empennage separated from the remainder of the airplane, and the airplane fell nose first, and came to rest at the base of the trees. The student said he then disconnected his seatbelt, exited the airplane, and walked to the road for help. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors revealed that the fuel in the gascolator was cloudy, orange in color, and contained a small amount of water. The inspectors further stated that they also found corrosion, as well as sediment that appeared to be fuel tank sealant, in the gascolator bowl. In addition, they said that when they removed the fuselage fuel drain, almost pure water came out of the drain. FAA records indicate that the student held a student pilot certificate that was issued on August 18, 1997. The student did not produce any records to indicate that he had current training endorsements at the time of the accident. The NTSB did not receive an NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6753S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6753S-2013-05-01), registration cancelled 2013-05-01, S/N 15067553, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15067553 - Airframe hours: 8055 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert J. Gann - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 2000, 1 hours before - Departed: MOR, MORRISTOWN, TN - Destination: GKT, SEVIERVILLE, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; student; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 25 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 20000228012609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000228012609A), Feb 28, 2000: Cessna 150H, Dandridge, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Local VFR flight from mor to gkt. Enroute the engine began to run rough, and stopped several times. Pilot was able to restart but in the process he… 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.