# NTSB SEA06CA122: Cessna 150K, N6255G, Shelton, WA, June 19, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 18, 2006, 17:45 local (Jun 19, 2006, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Shelton, WA - Coordinates: 47.238056, -123.14083 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2381&lon=-123.1408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64077 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64077/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA122 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) (contributing 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6255G), registered now, S/N 15071755, 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: 15071755 - Airframe hours: 4655 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060618022649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060618022649A), Jun 18, 2006: Cessna 150K, Shelton, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 1820 PDT on June 18, 2006, private pilot [privacy data omitted] and 19 year old daughter, were flying back from ephrata Washington… 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.