# NTSB NYC97LA111: Cessna 150K, N6218G, Jay, ME, June 8, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 1997, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Jay, ME - Location: 44.5040° N, 70.2162° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Jay, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5040&lon=-70.2162&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39372 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39372/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA111 ## Probable cause the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## 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) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable - object - sign ## Analysis The pilot was in cruise flight at 7,500 feet with the mixture leaned out when he developed 'engine problems.' The pilot thought he had encountered carburetor icing, so he applied carburetor heat and changed the mixture. The pilot was near Lebanon, New Hampshire, when it appeared the engine problem was resolved, so he chose to continue to his destination. The pilot reported that some time later, he heard a loud noise from under the engine and experienced engine 'roughness.' He pilot attempted to restore engine power by leaning the mixture, checking the magnetos, and by changing flight attitude and direction. However, after a few minutes the engine completely lost power. The pilot stated the engine stopped and he performed a forced landing to a road. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a sign, went over an embankment, and came to rest in a ditch. The pilot reported that he had been flying for 3 to 3.5 hours and that he should have had 5 hours of flight time on full tanks and that, '...fuel usage was 5 gallons per hour.' Examination of the wreckage revealed 1.5 gallons of fuel on board. According to the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the airplane had a 26 gallon fuel capacity, of which 22.5 gallons was usable. The duration of the accident flight was 3.8 hours. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 1997, approximately 1250 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150-K, N6218G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a road near Jay, Maine. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at Schenectady, New York (SCH), at 0908, and was destined for Pittsfield, Maine (2B7). The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector's report, he stated the pilot was in cruise flight at 7,500 feet with the mixture leaned out when he developed "engine problems." The pilot thought he had encountered carburetor icing so he applied carburetor heat and changed the mixture. The pilot was near Lebanon, New Hampshire, when it appeared the engine problem was resolved, so he chose to continue to Pittsfield. The pilot reported that sometime later, he heard a loud noise from under the engine and experienced engine "roughness." The pilot attempted to restore engine power by leaning the mixture, checking the magnetos, and by changing flight attitude and direction. However, after a few minutes the engine completely lost power. The pilot stated the engine stopped and he performed a forced landing to a road. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a snow depth gauge, went over an embankment, and came to rest in a ditch. An Officer of the Jay Police Department reported that the pilot said he had been flying for 3 to 3.5 hours and that he should have had 5 hours of flight time on full tanks. According to the Officer, the pilot, "...stated that fuel usage was 5 gallons per hour." A review of the take off and landing times revealed the plane was aloft for 3.8 hours. The Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook stated that the Model 150 was equipped with a fuel capacity of 26 gallons, of which 3.5 gallons were unusable. According to the FAA Inspector, examination of the airplane wreckage revealed a total of 1.5 gallons of fuel on board. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6218G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6218G-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N 15071718, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150K - Registry model: [Cessna 150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (registry code 2071822) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071718 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Eddie Arroyo - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 1996 - Departed: SCH, SCHENECTADY, NY - Destination: 2B7, PITTSFIELD, ME ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 367 total, 25 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 12 knots - Visibility: 55 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MWN, 40 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 19970608044459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970608044459A), Jun 8, 1997: Cessna 150K, North Jay, ME, Substantial damage. Engine quit enroute. Hit sign landing on road. Spun into ditch. Had exhausted usable fuel. Had wrong idea fuel burn 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.