# NTSB SEA07CA100: Cessna 150E, N3523J, Levelland, TX, April 20, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 20, 2007, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: Levelland, TX
- Coordinates: 33.688888, -102.383056
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6889&lon=-102.3831&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65629
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65629/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA100

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of power.  A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that on the return leg of the cross-country instructional flight at 5,500 feet mean sea level and 10 nautical miles from her destination airport, the engine lost power.  The pilot reported that she then made a forced landing to a plowed field.  A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that when both of the airplane's wing tanks were inspected for fuel, less than one gallon of fuel was drained from each tank.  The inspector stated that the firewall and engine mount had sustained substantial damage, the nose landing gear had separated, and that both main landing gear structures were bent aft.  The inspector also revealed that the pilot had landed across the rows of the plowed field.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that on the return leg of the cross-country instructional flight at 5,500 feet mean sea level and 10 nautical miles from her destination airport, the engine lost power.  The pilot reported that she then made a forced landing to a plowed field.  A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported that when both of the airplane's wing tanks were inspected for fuel, less than one gallon of fuel was drained from each tank.  The inspector stated that the firewall and engine mount had sustained substantial damage, the nose landing gear had separated, and that both main landing gear structures were bent aft.  The inspector also revealed that the pilot had landed across the rows of the plowed field.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3523J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3523J-2010-02-11), registration cancelled 2010-02-11, S/N 15061223, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150E
- Registry model: [Cessna 150E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150e) (registry code 2071812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15061223
- Engines: Continental O-200 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Levelland Aviation
- Registered owner: Steven C. Bernstein
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: E52, Vega, TX
- Destination: LLN, Levelland, TX
- Airport: LLN, Levelland Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 97 total, 92 in this make and model, 69 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20070420004529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070420004529A), Apr 20, 2007: Cessna 150E, Whitharral, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 20, 2007, aircraft departed levelland, Texas (lln) for a round trip cross-country to vega, Texas (E52). Second pilot flew first leg of the…

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.

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