# NTSB WPR13CA103: Cessna 150J, N50690, Porterville, CA, January 18, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 18, 2013, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Porterville, CA - Coordinates: 36.024444, -119.057777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0244&lon=-119.0578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86084/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86084 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to 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 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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: 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) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071820), [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 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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150J, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071820), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a 4.5-hour cross-country flight, and, after making two full stop landings without refueling, the engine lost power while he was returning to his departure airport. A forced landing was made to a service road where, during the landing roll, the left wing tip struck a wood post, which caused the airplane to rotate 90 degrees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. A postaccident examination revealed no usable fuel in the fuel tanks. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and said it was likely that he had exhausted his fuel supply. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during a 4.5-hour cross-country flight, and after making two full stop landings without refueling, the engine lost power while he was returning to his departure airport. A forced landing was made to a service road where during the landing roll, the left wing tip struck a wood post, which caused the airplane to rotate 90 degrees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. A postaccident examination revealed no usable fuel in the fuel tanks. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and said it was likely that he had exhausted his fuel supply. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50690](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50690-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N 15069486, 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: 15069486 - Airframe hours: 6138 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Del-Air - Registered owner: Dellicker Harry R Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2012, 48 hours before - Departed: MAE, Madera, CA - Destination: Porterville, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 61; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 82 total, 47 in this make and model, 32 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: PTV, 17 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 20130118001799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130118001799A), Jan 18, 2013: Cessna 150J, Tulare, CA, Substantial damage. The pilot departed the porterville municipal airport at approximately 0830 local time to make the flight from porterville (kptv) to hayward (khwd) to madera… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86084. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387575&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Investigation Report (item 2, .PDF, 12 photos, 780 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387576&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Investigation%20Report-Redacted.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.