# NTSB MIA95LA038: Cessna 150M, N9436U, Fort Pierce, FL, December 12, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 12, 1994, 14:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL
- Coordinates: 27.500822, -80.360038 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5008&lon=-80.3600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37707
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37707/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA038

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND BECAME LOST AND OPERATED THE AIRCRAFT UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION.

## 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 (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - high vegetation

## Analysis

THE PILOT BECAME LOST WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND AT AN AIRPORT THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN TREES TO THE WEST OF THE AIRPORT.

## Factual narrative

On December 12, 1994, about 1405 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M, N9436U, registered to Cecilys Flight Center, Inc., crashed into trees while making a forced landing following total loss of engine power near Fort Pierce, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the student pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated at Fort Myers, Florida, on December 12, 1994, about 1200.

The pilot stated he was flying from Fort Myers, Florida, to Melbourne, Florida. En route he drifted south of course. He calculated he had 1/2 hour of fuel remaining and flew over what he thought to be the Vero Beach Airport. He then flew south of the airport with the intentions of contacting the control tower for landing. The engine then lost power and he made a forced landing in trees.

Postcrash examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector indicated the aircraft had crashed 5 miles west of the St. Lucie County Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida. The aircraft did not contain any usable fuel and that there were no signs of precrash or postcrash fuel system leakage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9436U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9436U-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 15078384, 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: 15078384
- Airframe hours: 5860
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Cecilys Flight Center, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 30, 1994, 30 hours before
- Departed: FMY, FT. MYERS, FL
- Destination: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 57 total, 57 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FPR, 5 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 19941212041539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941212041539A), Dec 12, 1994: Cessna 150M, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. Off course. Flew over fpr beleived to be destination vrb. Hesitated and ran out of fuel. Crashed into trees.

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.

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