# NTSB NYC07CA154: Cessna 150, N7842E, Lancaster, PA, June 28, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 28, 2007, 15:18 local (19:18 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, PA - Coordinates: 40.087776, -76.272781 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0878&lon=-76.2728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66125 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66125/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA154 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to conduct the flight while impaired by alcohol, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and substantial damage to the airplane during the subsequent 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, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause) - judgment - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose gear collapsed, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - plowed/furrowed ## Analysis At approximately 1518 eastern daylight time, the owner/pilot of a Cessna 150 conducted an emergency landing off-airport in a cornfield after a total loss of engine power. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to local law enforcement personnel, the pilot said he departed Smoketown Airport (S37), Smoketown, Pennsylvania, at approximately 1345. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that was on scene, the fuel quantity remaining was less than the manufacturer's published minimum fuel required for engine operation in flight. The inspector did not report any fuel tank damage or leaks. Additionally, the inspector reported that the pilot's third class medical certificate had expired in May 2003, that the pilot did not meet the Flight Review currency requirements, and that the ELT battery was beyond its expiration date. The pilot failed field sobriety tests administered to him on-site by a local law enforcement officer, and a breathalyzer test yielded an alcohol concentration reading of 0.153 percent blood alcohol. FAR 91.17(a) specifies a maximum blood alcohol concentration of less than 0.04 percent. ## Factual narrative At approximately 1518 eastern daylight time, the owner/pilot of a Cessna 150 conducted an emergency landing off-airport in a cornfield after a total loss of engine power. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to local law enforcement personnel, the pilot said he departed Smoketown Airport (S37), Smoketown, Pennsylvania, at approximately 1345. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that was on scene, the fuel quantity remaining was less than the manufacturer's published minimum fuel required for engine operation in flight. The inspector did not report any fuel tank damage or leaks. Additionally, the inspector reported that the pilot's third class medical certificate had expired in May 2003, that the pilot did not meet the Flight Review currency requirements, and that the ELT battery was beyond its expiration date. The pilot failed field sobriety tests administered to him on-site by a local law enforcement officer, and a breathalyzer test yielded an alcohol concentration reading of 0.153 percent blood alcohol. FAR 91.17(a) specifies a maximum blood alcohol concentration of less than 0.04 percent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7842E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7842E), registered now, S/N 17642 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17642 - Airframe hours: 5220 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: S37, Smoketown, PA - Destination: KLNS, Lancaster, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; flight hours: 700 total, 680 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 12 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: LNS, 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 20070628015989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070628015989A), Jun 28, 2007: Cessna 150, Lancaster, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) Rocc (regional operations command center) reported emergency off airport landing south east of Lancaster airport (lns). Aircraft landed in a corn field.… ## Other investigations on N7842E (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 NYC66F0508](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66F0508), Feb 12, 1966: Cessna 150 (N7842E), New Cumberland, 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.