# NTSB WPR09CA078: Cessna 150L, N21999, Pescadero, CA, January 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 10, 2009, 16:20 local (Jan 11, 2009, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Pescadero, CA - Coordinates: 37.233333, -122.400001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2333&lon=-122.4000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73213 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73213/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight fuel planning and preparation. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a suitable area for a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane left Monterey with the left fuel tank at 5/8 full and the right fuel tank at 1/4 full. After flying 60 miles, the pilot noted that the left fuel gage read zero and the right fuel gauge read 1/8. The remaining 20 miles of the flight was to be over water and rugged coast line. Due to the airplane's low fuel state, the pilot decided to make a precautionary landing into a freshly plowed field. At the end of the landing roll the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On January 10, 2009, at 1620 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152L, N21999, executed a precautionary landing into a freshly plowed farmer's field near Pescadero, California. The private pilot rented the airplane from Sterling Flight LLC, Concord, California, and operated it under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot received minor injuries and his passenger was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Monterey, California, at 1530. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that they left Monterey with the left fuel tank at 5/8 full and the right fuel tank at 1/4 full. After flying 60 miles the pilot noted that the left fuel gage read 0 and the right fuel gage read 1/8. The remaining 20 miles of the flight was to be over water and rugged coast line. Due to the airplane's low fuel state, the pilot decided to make a precautionary landing into a freshly plowed farmer's field. At the end of the landing roll the airplane nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21999](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21999-2013-09-04), registration cancelled 2013-09-04, S/N 15074600, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15074600 - Airframe hours: 6548 - Engines: Teledyne Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 10, 2008, 66 hours before - Departed: KMRY, Monterey, CA - Destination: KHAF, Half Moon Bay, CA - Airport: KHAF, Half Moon Bay, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review February 22, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 153 total, 9 in this make and model, 89 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Observed at: KHAF, 18 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 20090110000269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090110000269A), Jan 10, 2009: Cessna 150L, Pescadero, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot in command of the aircraft believed that he had a fuel leak and could not complete the flight to his destination airport. He elected to made a… ## Other investigations on N21999 (1) 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. - [NTSB OAK74DVW14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DVW14), Mar 14, 1974: Cessna 150L (N21999), Lone Pine, CA, substantial damage 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.