# NTSB MIA94LA042: Cessna 150F, N8532G, Lantana, FL, December 31, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 30, 1993, 19:30 local (Dec 31, 1993, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Lantana, FL - Coordinates: 26.850893, -80.089179 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8509&lon=-80.0892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37473 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37473/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA042 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AFTER BECOMING TEMPORARILY LOST, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DISPATCH OF THE STUDENT ON THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT BY THE CFI WITH AN ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME OF 22 MINUTES AFTER THE OFFICIAL SUNSET. ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - planning/decision - poor, flight instructor(on ground) (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis ON THE RETURN LEG TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE PILOT BECAME TEMPORALLY LOST AND FAILED TO OBTAIN EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. AFTER DETERMINING HIS POSITION HE PROCEEDED TO HIS DESTINATION, BUT WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE CFI DISPATCHED THE STUDENT ON THE TWO LEG CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH AN ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME ABOUT 22 MINUTES AFTER THE OFFICIAL SUNSET. ## Factual narrative On December 30, 1993, about 1930 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150F, N8532G, registered to Micro Aviation Inc., crashed about 5 miles south of the Palm Beach County Park Airport, Lantana, Florida, while on a 14 CFR 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the student pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from Lantana, Florida, about 3 hours 36 minutes earlier. During the return leg of the cross-country flight, the student pilot became temporarily lost and he did not obtain emergency assistance. After determining his location he proceeded to his destination but the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a field during which the aircraft was substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the left fuel tank contained only a residual quantity of fuel and the right fuel tank contained about 1 pint of fuel. The airplane had been operated for 3.6 hours indicated by the Hobbs meter since fueling. The certified flight instructor dispatched the student on the two leg cross-country flight with an estimated completion time about 22 minutes after the official sunset. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8532G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8532G-1995-02-28), registration cancelled 1995-02-28, S/N 15062632 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15062632 - Airframe hours: 6884 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Micro Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Micro Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 18, 1993, 80 hours before - Departed: APF, NAPLES, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: LNA, Palm Beach County Park ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 59 total, 53 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PBI, 10 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 19931230047489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931230047489A), Dec 30, 1993: Cessna 150F, West Palm Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Student lost at night on cross country solo. Got bearings. Ran out fuel short of lna. CFI dispatched too near dark. 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.