# NTSB WPR14CA069: Cessna 150F, N7015F, Henderson, NV, December 14, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 13, 2013, 20:38 local (Dec 14, 2013, 04:38 UTC) - Place: Henderson, NV - Coordinates: 35.980525, -115.110755 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9805&lon=-115.1108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 88549 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88549/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88549 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA069 ## Probable cause The flight crew's improper in-flight fuel planning lead to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071814), [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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot, who was acting as the pilot-in-command, stated that shortly after he descended the airplane and leveled off at 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl) the engine sputtered and lost power. Attempts to restart the engine was unsuccessful. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing into a cement mixing yard, shearing off the landing gear in the process and substantially damaging the fuselage and wings. The certified flight instructor (CFI), who was acting as copilot, stated that sunset occurred about 1 hour into the flight. The local sunset time was approximately 1627. The accident occurred at 2038, which established the total time airborne about 5 hours. Both pilots stated that the airplane was fully fueled before departing, and airport fueling records show that 19.6 gallons of fuel was purchased by the CFI. The Cessna 150 Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) states that an airplane equipped with standard fuel tanks has 22.5 gallons of usable fuel, and has about 5 hours of endurance at cruise power. First responders reported that there was no fuel observed in the airplane's fuel tanks and no odor of fuel was observed at the accident site. A postaccident examination of the airplane concluded that no engine mechanical malfunction or failure was identified that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The private pilot, who was acting as the pilot-in-command, stated that shortly after he descended the airplane and leveled off at 6,000 feet mean sea level (msl) the engine sputtered and lost power. Attempts to restart the engine was unsuccessful. The pilot subsequently executed a forced landing into a cement mixing yard, shearing off the landing gear in the process and substantially damaging the fuselage and wings. The certified flight instructor (CFI), who was acting as copilot, stated that sunset occurred about 1 hour into the flight. The local sunset time was approximately 1627. The accident occurred at 2038, which established the total time airborne about 5 hours. Both pilots stated that the airplane was fully fueled before departing, and airport fueling records show that 19.6 gallons of fuel was purchased by the CFI. The Cessna 150 Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) states that an airplane equipped with standard fuel tanks has 22.5 gallons of usable fuel, and has about 5 hours of endurance at cruise power. First responders reported that there was no fuel observed in the airplane's fuel tanks and no odor of fuel was observed at the accident site. A postaccident examination of the airplane concluded that no engine mechanical malfunction or failure was identified that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7015F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7015F-2018-03-16), registration cancelled 2018-03-16, S/N 15063615, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F (F) - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15063615 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 5231 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2013 - Departed: KCGZ, Casa Grande, AZ - Destination: KVGT, Las Vegas, NV - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KVGT, North Las Vegas ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 181 total, 2.2 in this make and model, 68 as pilot in command - Co-pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2013; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 203.3 total, 116.3 in this make and model, 99 as pilot in command, 38.5 in the last 90 days, 35.5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 27.70 inHg - Observed at: KHND, 16 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 20131213025179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131213025179A), Dec 13, 2013: Cessna 150F, Henderson, NV, Substantial damage. Aircraft was inbound for vgt from casa grande AZ and completed an emergency landing in an industrial complex in Henderson NV by highway 95 and interstate 15.… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88549. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 365 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 416 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies (item 3, .PDF, 737 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407267&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 4, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspectors Statements (item 5, .PDF, 160 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspectors%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Las Vegas Metro PD record of conversation (item 6, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Las%20Vegas%20Metro%20PD%20record%20of%20conversation-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.