# NTSB MIA97LA184: Cessna 150G, N2276J, Greer, SC, June 15, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 15, 1997, 15:47 local (19:47 UTC) - Place: Greer, SC - Coordinates: 34.929294, -82.230392 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9293&lon=-82.2304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38291 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38291/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA184 ## Probable cause the student pilot's improper management of fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and subsequent collision with trees and terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot stated he had descended to 2,000 feet in preparation for landing when the engine started running rough, then lost power. The left fuel gage indicated empty and the right fuel gage indicated about 1/4 full. The pilot established the best glide speed, but the airplane collided with trees and terrain about 1 mile from the runway. Examination revealed the left and right fuel tanks were not ruptured and no fuel was present. Fuel was added to the right fuel tank, then the engine was started, and it developed power. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 1997, about 1547 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N2276J, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a reported loss of engine power while en route to Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, Greer, South Carolina. The pilot made a forced landing into the trees. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Reidsville, North Carolina (NC14), about 30 minutes before the accident. The student pilot stated he departed Charlottesville, Virginia, with full fuel tanks at about 1154, and landed at NC14 at about 1500. He departed NC14 at about 1530 and climbed to 4,300 feet. He contacted ATC, requested vectors to the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, and was cleared to descend to 2,000 feet. The engine started cutting off and on and quit upon reaching 2,000 feet. He informed ATC and was cleared to land on runway 21. He visually checked the fuel gages. The right fuel tank indicated about a 1/4 tank of fuel. The left tank was empty. He assumed the best glide speed and the airplane collided with trees about 1 mile from the runway. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. The left and right fuel cells appeared to be empty. Firemen responding to the crash scene stated there was no indication of a ruptured fuel cell or leaking fuel. When the pilot was asked by fireman how much fuel was on board the pilot stated, "I think I'm empty." The airplane wreckage was recovered to Allen Aero Service Inc., Jefferson, Georgia. Further examination of the wreckage on June 25, 1997, by the FAA revealed several drops of fuel present in the airframe fuel strainer valve. The fuel tanks were not ruptured. The airplane was rolled outside for an engine run, and fuel was added to the right wing. The engine started, and ran at 1,000 rpm. The rpm was increased to1650 rpm and a magneto check was performed. Both magneto drops were within limits. An idle mixture check was performed and the engine was shut down. The wreckage was released to Max Allen, Allen Aero Service Inc., on June 16, 1997. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2276J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2276J-2000-10-06), registration cancelled 2000-10-06, S/N 15065476 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 150-65476 - Airframe hours: 6298 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Air Ventures Inc - Registered owner: Jacob J Cuitjens - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1997, 45 hours before - Departed: NC14, REIDSVILLE, NC - Destination: GSP, SC - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 40 total, 28 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GSP, 1 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 19970615014099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970615014099A), Jun 15, 1997: Cessna 150G, Greer, SC, Substantial damage. Lost power approaching airport. Landed in trees. Had run out of fuel. (-23) the pilot was being vectored for a landing at the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport.… 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.