# NTSB NYC08CA079: Cessna 150G, N2490J, Sarasota, FL, January 10, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 9, 2008, 19:44 local (Jan 10, 2008, 00:44 UTC)
- Place: Sarasota, FL
- Coordinates: 27.259721, -82.287498
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2597&lon=-82.2875&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67363
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67363/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA079

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper preflight and in-flight planning which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a cross country flight the pilot of a Cessna 150G executed a forced landing after a complete loss of engine power.  During the landing the airplane nosed over substantially damaging the firewall and vertical stabilizer.  According to the pilot, after leaving his departure airport, he stopped at two other airports prior to proceeding to his final destination.  Once he arrived at his destination airport, he was unable to turn on the runway lights and began to orbit the airport.  Approximately 10 minutes later, the engine began to "roll back" and lost all power.  The pilot estimated that he had operated the airplane for 3.2 hours prior to the loss of power and that all of the flights had been operated at 3,000 feet.  He stated that the fuel burn had been 4.2 gallons an hour in accordance with the pilot's operating handbook (POH).  A review of the Cessna 150G POH revealed that 3.24 gallons was required for the three, engine start, taxi, and takeoff sequences.  A review of the airplane's engine hour meter and maintenance records revealed that the airplane had been operated for 4.6 hours.  Fuel burn calculations derived from information in the POH, the pilot's stated fuel burn, and hour meter information revealed that a total of 22.52 gallons of gasoline would have been consumed.  According to the POH, total usable fuel was 22.5 gallons.  A postaccident examination by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed no evidence of fuel in either the fuel lines or fuel tanks.

## Factual narrative

During a cross country flight the pilot of a Cessna 150G executed a forced landing after a complete loss of engine power.  During the landing the airplane nosed over substantially damaging the firewall and vertical stabilizer.  According to the pilot, after leaving his departure airport, he stopped at two other airports prior to proceeding to his final destination.  Once he arrived at his destination airport, he was unable to turn on the runway lights and began to orbit the airport.  Approximately 10 minutes later, the engine began to "roll back" and lost all power.  The pilot estimated that he had operated the airplane for 3.2 hours prior to the loss of power and that all of the flights had been operated at 3,000 feet.  He stated that the fuel burn had been 4.2 gallons an hour in accordance with the pilot's operating handbook (POH).  A review of the Cessna 150G POH revealed that 3.24 gallons was required for the three, engine start, taxi, and takeoff sequences.  A review of the airplane's engine hour meter and maintenance records revealed that the airplane had been operated for 4.6 hours.  Fuel burn calculations derived from information in the POH, the pilot's stated fuel burn, and hour meter information revealed that a total of 22.52 gallons of gasoline would have been consumed.  According to the POH, total usable fuel was 22.5 gallons.  A postaccident examination by an airframe and powerplant mechanic revealed no evidence of fuel in either the fuel lines or fuel tanks.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2490J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2490J), registered now, S/N 15065590, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150G
- Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15065590
- Airframe hours: 1651.5
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bill Burton
- Registered owner: Granville Group
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2007, 4.6 hours before
- Departed: X58, Indiantown, FL
- Destination: 22FA, Sarasota, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ, 17 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 20080109014329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080109014329A), Jan 9, 2008: Cessna 150G, Sarasota, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On the morning of 14 January 2008 I, in the company of two other inspectors [privacy data omitted] interviewed the pilot [privacy data omitted] and…

## Other investigations on N2490J (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 FTW69F0325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW69F0325), Dec 13, 1968: Cessna 150 (N2490J), Port Bolivar, TX, 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.

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