# NTSB WPR12CA370: Cessna 150G, N6346S, Madera, CA, August 26, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 26, 2012, 10:54 local (17:54 UTC) - Place: Madera, CA - Coordinates: 36.968055, -120.079444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9681&lon=-120.0794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA370 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84802/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84802 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA370 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## 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 150G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was nearing the end of a 349-mile flight. When he was 3.5 miles from the destination airport, at 2,300 feet mean sea level, the engine began to sputter and then quit. The pilot was over a residential neighborhood and realized the airplane was not going to make it to the airport. He turned the airplane right toward a dry river bed; however, the airplane collided with a tree, then impacted terrain, and flipped over. The pilot said it was likely that he had exhausted his fuel supply. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was at the end of a 349-mile flight. When he was 3.5 miles from the destination airport, at 2,300 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine began to sputter, then quit. The pilot was over a neighborhood and realized he was not going to make it to the airport. He identified a dry river bed off to his right, and turned towards that direction. The airplane collided with the top of a tree, which slowed it down. The pilot then pull back on the yoke, the airplane impacted terrain, and flipped over. The pilot said it was likely that he had exhausted his fuel supply. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6346S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6346S-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 15067146, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15067146 - Airframe hours: 3570 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2012 - Departed: KIFP, Bullhead City, AZ - Destination: KMAE, Madera, CA - Airport: KMAE, Madera Municipal Airport, runway 30 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 29, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 410 total, 96 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 300° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KMAE, 2 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 20120826017669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120826017669A), Aug 26, 2012: Cessna 150G, Madera, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot of N6346S CE-150-G departed (ifp) bull head city AZ on the morning of August 26, 2012. He planned to stop at Madera CA for fuel. Approximately 1 mile… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84802. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 823 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo's provided by the FAA (item 2, .PDF, 816 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%27s%20provided%20by%20the%20FAA-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.