# NTSB NYC01LA003: Cessna 150M, N704ST, Haverford Twp., PA, October 5, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 2000, 22:00 local (Oct 5, 2000, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Haverford Twp., PA - Coordinates: 39.970806, -75.310737 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9708&lon=-75.3107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50396 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50396/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA003 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Also causal was the pilot's inability to locate the airport. A factor in this accident was the dark night conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - maintenance,annual inspection - overdue - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated he departed with about 7 or 8 gallons of fuel on board; however, he was not certain how long he had been in flight. The pilot reported the airplane 'ran out of gas' while searching for an airport at night, and he performed a forced landing into trees. The airplane came to rest about 150 feet into a quarry and was not recovered. The airplane's last annual inspection was about 13 months prior to the accident. The pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate was dated about 13 years prior to the accident. He reported 200 hours of total flight experience at that time. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 2000, about 2200 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 150M, N704ST, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Haverford Township, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Brandywine Airport (N99), West Chester, Pennsylvania. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During a telephone interview, the pilot stated he intended to fly to the New Garden Airport, Toughkenaman, Pennsylvania, which was located about 15 miles southwest of N99; however, he was unable to locate the airport and elected to return to N99. The pilot stated that he had difficulty finding N99, and while searching for the runway, "the airplane ran out of gas." The pilot performed a forced landing into trees, and the airplane came to rest about 150 feet into a quarry. As of April 2000, the airplane had not been recovered. The pilot stated he departed with about 7 or 8 gallons of fuel on board; however, he was not certain how long he had been in flight. Additionally, the pilot said he did not experience any mechanical problems during the flight. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed on September 8, 1999, and the pilot reported the airplane had been flown "a few hours" since the inspection. The pilot's most recent application for a Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate, was processed on July 23, 1987. At that time he reported 200 hours of total flight experience. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N704ST](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704ST-2013-09-17), registration cancelled 2013-09-17, S/N 15078844, 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: 15078844 - Airframe hours: 1495 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Levi Robinson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 1999, 5 hours before - Departed: N99, WEST CHESTER, PA - Destination: N57, TOUGHKENAMON, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 260° at 8 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PHL, 20 nm away ## Other investigations on N704ST (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC80FGM10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC80FGM10), Jan 26, 1980: Cessna 150M (N704ST), Waynesburg, PA, substantial damage 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.