# NTSB SEA00LA176: Cessna 150H, N22237, Ontario, OR, September 13, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 13, 2000, 08:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Ontario, OR - Coordinates: 44.080532, -117.010604 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0805&lon=-117.0106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50255 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50255/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA176 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command/flight instructor's failure to adequately refuel the aircraft, resulting in fuel exhaustion, and his subsequent high flare in a forced landing attempt, resulting in a stall and touchdown/impact on the nose gear. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - refueling - not performed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose gear collapsed, emergency landing - flare - high, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall - encountered, pilot in command(cfi) - touchdown - improper, pilot in command(cfi) ## Analysis The aircraft took off with between 1/4 and 1/2 fuel, and flew for about 30 to 45 minutes performing air work and touch-and-go landings before the accident. On the third touch-and-go takeoff, upon reaching the end of runway 32 at an altitude of 100 feet and airspeed of 65 to 70 knots, the aircraft's engine lost power. The instructor took control of the aircraft and attempted a forced landing in a mowed alfalfa field off the departure end of the runway. The instructor flared the aircraft slightly high and the nose dropped as the aircraft touched down, resulting in touchdown in a nose-low attitude that sheared the nose gear and supporting structure from the aircraft. In a post-accident examination of the aircraft, a total of 2.5 quarts of fuel was recovered from the aircraft's fuel system. The aircraft has a total fuel capacity of 26 gallons, of which 3.5 gallons are unusable. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 2000, approximately 0815 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N22237, registered to Ontario Aviation Inc. of Ontario, Oregon, was substantially damaged in a forced landing attempt following a loss of engine power on climbout from a touch-and-go takeoff from the Ontario airport. The commercial pilot/flight instructor received minor injuries, and a dual student was not injured in the crash. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the 14 CFR 91 local instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that the engine lost power after takeoff from runway 32, which resulted in an off-airport landing and nose gear collapse with damage to the engine area of the aircraft. On his NTSB accident report, he reported that the flight departed at 0745, about 30 minutes before the time he reported the accident happened. The instructor did not indicate how much fuel was on board the aircraft at the time of the last takeoff. An FAA inspector from the Boise, Idaho, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), who assisted in the NTSB accident investigation, reported that the student pilot told him that on preflight, the aircraft's fuel gauges each indicated 1/4 tank. The inspector reported that the flight instructor told him he checked the aircraft fuel tanks with a measuring device on preflight, and estimated they were both 1/2 full. The inspector reported that the training flight consisted of some air work followed by several touch and go takeoffs and landings. The FAA inspector stated that on the third touch and go, upon reaching the end of runway 32 at an altitude of 100 feet and airspeed of 65 to 70 knots, the engine quit developing power and the instructor took control of the aircraft and attempted a forced landing in a mowed alfalfa field off the departure end of the runway. The FAA inspector reported that the aircraft "struck the field in a slightly nose down attitude at stalled airspeed", shearing the nose gear and supporting structure from the aircraft. The FAA inspector stated that in an interview with the instructor, the instructor told him that when he landed in the field, he flared the aircraft slightly high and the nose dropped as the aircraft touched down, resulting in touchdown in a nose-low attitude. The inspector reported that the student told him the total time of the entire training flight was 45 minutes. In a post-accident examination of the aircraft, a total of 2.5 quarts of fuel was recovered from the aircraft's fuel system. The aircraft has a total fuel capacity of 26 gallons, of which 3.5 gallons are unusable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22237](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22237-2002-06-26), registration cancelled 2002-06-26, S/N 15068159, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15068159 - Airframe hours: 6970 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ontario Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 28, 2000, 43 hours before - Departed: ONO - Airport: ONO, Ontario Muni, runway 32, 4,529 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 9,000 total, 8,000 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 3 knots ## 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 20000913005899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000913005899A), Sep 13, 2000: Cessna 150H, Ontario, CA, No damage. (-23) The training flight had originated at the Ontario Oregon airport(ont) and consisted of some air work followed by several touch and go take off and… 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.