- Date
- April 5, 1997, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Wolfeboro, NH
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6106TCessna 150E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 2, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970405045919A
- Case key
- 39340
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper preflight, and failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion during the initial climb after takeoff, and the subsequent forced landing and collision with a mound of dirt.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot fueled his airplane and flew a cross country flight for a total duration of 4 hours. After landing back at his departure airport, the pilot departed for another flight without refueling. The pilot stated that the fuel gauges read 1/4, but on takeoff he ran out of fuel, and the engine lost power. He performed a forced landing straight ahead onto the runway, and struck a mound of dirt beyond the departure end of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed less then 2 gallons of fuel remained in the wing tanks. The Pilot's Operating Handbook stated the fuel tanks contained 3 1/2 gallons of unusable fuel.
Factual narrative
On April 5, 1997, about 1530 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150E, N6106T, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff at the Lakes Region Airport, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Wolfeboro. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he filled the airplane's fuel tanks, and then flew a cross country flight to Greenville, Maine, and back. The round trip distance was 250 miles, which included 1 stop. He also stated, "Flew around [a] while in Maine." After he returned to Wolfeboro, he took off for a trip to Laconia, New Hampshire.
He further stated:
"...Gas gauges were reading 1/4 tank, but both tanks were empty. Took off for 10 minute trip to LCI. Ran out of gas on takeoff."
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated he fueled the airplane with about 12 gallons of fuel, and then flew between 3 and 4 hours. After landing back at his departure airport, the pilot decided to fly again, and departed without further refueling. During the initial climb after takeoff, about 50 feet above the runway, the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing straight ahead onto the runway, and struck a mound of dirt beyond the departure end of the runway.
The FAA Inspector's examination of the airplane revealed less then 2 gallons of fuel remained in the wing tanks.
According to the Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook, the fuel tanks contained 3 1/2 gallons of unusable fuel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6106T
- Reported as
- Cessna 150E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15060806
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Warren Lumpkins
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 9, 1997 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- 8B8
- Airport
- 8B8 · Lakes Region, runway 30, 2,030 × 50 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,593 total · 25 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N6106T · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.