# NTSB WPR11CA327: Cessna 150J, N60060, Wheatland, WY, July 13, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 13, 2011, 14:37 local (20:37 UTC) - Place: Wheatland, WY - Coordinates: 41.935554, -104.853332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9356&lon=-104.8533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81111 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA327 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81111/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81111 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA327 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to continue flight with known equipment deficiencies. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel indication system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022840/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071820), [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); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis After takeoff, the pilot noticed that the airplane's battery was not operating and elected to continue the flight without the use of his left and right fuel gauge indicators. When the airplane was about 12 miles south of the pilot's intended destination, the airplane's engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The fuselage, wings, and rudder sustained substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed there was no fuel in the fuel tanks. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal flight. ## Factual narrative After takeoff the pilot noticed that the airplane's battery was not operating and elected to continue the flight without the use of his left and right fuel gauge indicators, as required for flight under visual flight rules by CFR Part 91.205(b)(9). The pilot reported that 12 miles to the south of his intended destination, his engine sputtered and quit. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a road and the airplane touched down nose wheel first and nosed over, coming to a rest inverted. The fuselage, wings, and rudder sustained substantial damage. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane post accident, the fuel caps made a hissing noise when initially removed and there was no fuel in the fuel tanks. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60060](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60060-2014-10-21), registration cancelled 2014-10-21, S/N 15070043, built 1968 (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: 15070043 - Airframe hours: 2900 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: James. H. Reynolds - Registered owner: James. H. Reynolds - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2010, 35 hours before - Departed: 2NE7, Grant, NE - Destination: None, Wheatland, WY - Airport: None, None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 83; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,650 total, 475 in this make and model, 3,650 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 149° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KTOR, 37 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 20110713016249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110713016249A), Jul 13, 2011: Cessna 150J, Wheatland, WY, Substantial damage. On the day of the accident and before departure from grant, nb, the pilot had the aircraft hand proped due to the aircraft not starting using the starter.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81111. 668 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 474 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 4, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351673&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF 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.