SEA06CA122

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150K · Shelton, WA · June 19, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 18, 2006, 17:45 local (Jun 19, 2006, 00:45 UTC)
Place
Shelton, WA
Injuries
1 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N6255GCessna 150K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 3, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20060618022649A
Case key
64077

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. Compensation for weather (head winds), and trees were factors.

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.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Compensation for wind conditions - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Fluid,fuel - exhaustionCause
In-flight planning/decision - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Refueling - not performedPilot in commandCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - tree(s)Factor

Analysis

The pilot said that he had initially departed from Ephrata, Washington, with 3 hours of fuel; he said that the 145 nautical mile trip should have taken him 1.3 hours. The pilot reported that he made an interim full-stop at Ellensburg, Washington; he said that he had "very heavy winds" until west of the Cascade mountains. He reported a loss of engine power on 2 mile final at Shelton, Washington. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector disconnected the fuel line to the carburetor and drained approximately 1.25 gallons of fuel from the tanks. The manufacturer’s Owners Manual states that the airplane's fuel capacity is 26 gallons, but 3.5 gallons are unusable.

Factual narrative

On June 18, 2006, approximately 1745 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150K, N6255G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing attempt near Sanderson Field Airport, Shelton, Washington. The private pilot received minor injuries and his passenger was not injured. The airplane was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personnel, cross-country flight which had originated from Ellensburg, Washington, an undetermined time before the accident. The pilot had filed and opened a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan.

The pilot said that he had initially departed from Ephrata, Washington, with 3 hours of fuel; he said that the 145 nautical mile trip should have taken him 1.3 hours. The pilot reported that he made an interim full-stop at Ellensburg, Washington; he said that he had "very heavy winds" until west of the Cascade mountains. He reported a loss of engine power on 2 mile final at Shelton, Washington. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector disconnected the fuel line to the carburetor and drained approximately 1.25 gallons of fuel from the tanks. The manufacturer’s Owners Manual states that the airplane's fuel capacity is 26 gallons, but 3.5 gallons are unusable.

Aircraft

Registration
N6255G
Reported as
Cessna 150K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15071755
Airframe hours
4,655
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Richard K. Wiley
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 1, 2005
Departed
ELN · Ellensburg, WA
Destination
SHN · Shelton, WA
Flight plan
VFR

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
48
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 1, 2005
Seat
Left
Flight hours
147 total · 87 in this make and model · 87 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 11 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
8,000 ft overcast
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 45 °F
Altimeter
30.15 inHg
Observed at
SHN, 2 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.