# NTSB SEA94LA041: Cessna 150J, N61215, Tonasket, WA, December 16, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 15, 1993, 16:00 local (Dec 16, 1993, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Tonasket, WA - Coordinates: 48.680728, -119.300109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6807&lon=-119.3001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41861 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41861/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA041 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT. FACTORS INCLUDE AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND AN ICY LANDING AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Overrun, landing - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THE PILOT CHECKED THE FUEL GAUGES AND 'DIPPED' THE FUEL TANKS, BUT HE DID NOT USE A CALIBRATED FUEL TANK QUANTITY DEVICE. DURING CRUISE THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON AN ABANDONED DIRT AIRSTRIP WHICH HAD PATCHES OF ICE ON IT. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE PILOT OVERSHOT THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT, LANDED LONG, AND SLID OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On Wednesday afternoon, December 15, 1993, at 1600 PST, a Cessna C-150J, N61215, registered to the Tonasket Flying Club, impacted terrain and nosed over five miles south of Tonasket, Washington, during an emergency forced landing. There was no flight plan filed for the personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR 91 in visual meteorological conditions, that departed Brewster, Washington at about 1530, December 15, 1993, bound for Tonasket, Washington. The private certificated pilot was not injured in the accident. The aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire. The pilot reported the aircraft lost engine power during cruise flight and he initiated an emergency forced landing on a private airstrip which had snow and ice patches on it. The aircraft landed long, ran off the end of the runway, collided with terrain and nosed over. An aircraft mechanic who examined the wreckage after the accident reported there was no fuel in the aircraft tanks or evidence of spilled fuel at the accident site. The pilot said that both fuel gauges read between one-quarter and one-half full before takeoff, and he reported that he had "dipped" the tanks during preflight, but not with a calibrated stick. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61215](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61215), registered now, S/N 15070892, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070892 - Airframe hours: 3937 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tonasket Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1993, 210 hours before - Departed: S97, BREWSTER, WA - Airport: Abandoned Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 268 total, 200 in this make and model, 185 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F ## 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 19931215048609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931215048609A), Dec 15, 1993: Cessna 150J, Tonasket, WA, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Overshot landing on a private ice and snow covered strip. Nosed over. Fuel depleted. 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.