# NTSB SEA93LA189: Cessna 150M, N3305V, Missoula, MT, September 2, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1993, 17:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Missoula, MT
- Coordinates: 46.899696, -113.919715 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8997&lon=-113.9197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 41758
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93LA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41758/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93LA189

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO INADEQUATE PREFLT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PIC.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT LOST ENGINE POWER WHILE THE STUDENT WAS TURNING CROSSWIND IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT 400 FT AGL.  THE INSTRUCTOR INITIATED A FORCED LANDING, AND THE ACFT IMPACTED ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER ON TOUCHDOWN. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL IN THE TANKS.

## Factual narrative

On Thursday afternoon, September 2, 1993, at 1750 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N3305V, operated by Northstar Aviation, impacted terrain and nosed over during an emergency forced landing at Missoula, Montana.  There was no flight plan filed for the local student training flight, conducted under 14 CFR 91 in visual meteorological conditions, that originated at the Missoula Airport on September 2, 1993, at 1642.  The instructor pilot and the student pilot were not injured in the accident.  The aircraft was destroyed.  There was no fire.

The instructor pilot reported the student pilot was practicing takeoff and landings on runway 25 at the Missoula Airport, and the aircraft lost engine power about 400 feet above the ground while the student was turning crosswind in the traffic pattern.  The instructor initiated an emergency forced landing and the aircraft impacted rough terrain about one mile from the airport.  The landing gear collapsed on impact and the aircraft nosed over.

The FAA Airworthiness Inspector who examined the wreckage reported the left fuel tank contained less than 1/2 gallon of fuel and the right tank contained about 2.5 gallons of fuel.  The owner's manual indicates the total capacity of the aircraft fuel tanks is 26 gallons, of which 3.5 gallons is unusable.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3305V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3305V-2017-06-21), registration cancelled 2017-06-21, S/N 15076456, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15076456
- Airframe hours: 5081
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Northstar Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Northstar Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 1993, 100 hours before
- Destination: MSO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 600 total, 300 in this make and model, 576 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSO, 1 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 19930902032849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930902032849A), Sep 2, 1993: Cessna 150M, Missoula, MT, Destroyed. Engine quit in pattern at 400 AGL. CFI landed plane in rough terrain. Nosed over. Fuel tanks had no usable fuel.

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.