# NTSB NYC89LA050: Cessna 150, N63136, Lyme, CT, December 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 16, 1988, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Lyme, CT
- Location: 41.3965° N, 72.3438° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Town of Lyme, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3965&lon=-72.3438&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36352/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA050

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING; THE STUDENT PILOT BECAME LOST AND RAN OUT OF FUEL. DURING THE LANDING HE MISJUDGED DISTANCE, ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED AND OVERRAN THE FIELD COLLIDING WITH TREES.

## 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
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel consumption calculations - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Overrun, landing - flare/touchdown
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT, DUE TO IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISIONS, HE INADVERTENTLY BECAME LOST. HE FLEW OVER TWO CONTROLLED APRTS AND DID NOT LAND BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW THE PROPER RADIO FREQUENCIES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED LONG IN AN OPEN FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH TREES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63136](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63136-1989-04-04), registration cancelled 1989-04-04, S/N 15077128 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15077128
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Air Charter Express, Inc.
- Registered owner: Air Charter Express Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PLYMOUTH, MA
- Destination: PITTSFIELD, MA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 18 °F

## 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 19881216060459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881216060459A), Dec 16, 1988: Cessna 150M, Lyme, CT, Substantial damage. Off course and unable to use navcom. Ran out of fuel, overshot open field and crashed into trees at end of field.

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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