# NTSB MIA02LA028: Cessna 150M, N590AM, Stuart, FL, November 20, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 20, 2001, 17:25 local (22:25 UTC) - Place: Stuart, FL - Coordinates: 27.083055, -80.34111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0831&lon=-80.3411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53823 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53823/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel consumption calculations resulting in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and collision with trees during a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that prior to departure she fueled the airplane herself. She then departed Stuart and flew to Melbourne, Florida, and then returned to Stuart. The traffic pattern at Stuart was very busy, so she went to the practice area. She then made contact with the Stuart Control Tower and was cleared to enter right base for runway 7. She was about 8 miles from the airport, at 2,500 feet, and the engine was operating at 2,300 rpm. The engine then quit and she made a forced landing in a orange grove. Postcrash examination of the airplane by FAA inspectors showed the fuel selector was on, the right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank contained 1.5 to 2 gallons of fuel. There was no evidence of fuel leakage from the airplane after the accident or in-flight prior to the accident. The engine tachometer showed the airplane had operated 3.1 flight hours since the pilot took the airplane. After the airplane was recovered, FAA inspectors observed company maintenance personnel attach a fuel supply to the engine and then start and operate the engine with no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. The Pilot Operating Handbook for the Cessna 150 shows the airplane has 3.5 gallons of unusable fuel. ## Factual narrative On November 20, 2001, about 1725 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M, N590AM, registered to Ameens Leasing Corporation, collided with trees while making a forced landing following loss of engine power near Stuart, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Stuart, the same day, about 1420. The student pilot stated that prior to departure she fueled the airplane herself. She then departed Stuart and flew to Melbourne, Florida, and then returned to Stuart. The traffic pattern at Stuart was very busy, so she went to the practice area. She then made contact with the Stuart Control Tower and was cleared to enter right base for runway 7. She was about 8 miles from the airport, at 2,500 feet, and the engine was operating at 2,300 rpm. The engine then quit and she made a forced landing in a orange grove. Postcrash examination of the airplane by FAA inspectors showed the fuel selector was on, the right fuel tank was empty, and the left fuel tank contained 1.5 to 2 gallons of fuel. There was no evidence of fuel leakage from the airplane after the accident or in-flight prior to the accident. The engine tachometer showed the airplane had operated 3.1 flight hours since the pilot took the airplane. After the airplane was recovered, FAA inspectors observed company maintenance personnel attach a fuel supply to the engine and then start and operate the engine with no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. The Pilot Operating Handbook for the Cessna 150 shows the airplane has 3.5 gallons of unusable fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N590AM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N590AM-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N 15076540, built 1975 (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: 150-76540 - Airframe hours: 9231 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating; Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Florida Pilot School, Inc. - Registered owner: APA Enterprises Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 4, 2001, 21 hours before - Departed: SUA, Stuart, FL - Destination: SUA, Stuart, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 75 total, 14 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: SUA, 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 20011120038619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011120038619A), Nov 20, 2001: Cessna 150M, Stuart, FL, No damage. (-23) Collided with trees in Stuart, FL while making a forced landing following loss of engine power while on a 14 CFR 91 flight. Earlier in the day the pilot… 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.