# NTSB WPR21LA038: Cessna 150F, N8700G, Chandler, AZ, November 6, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 6, 2020, 08:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ · KCHD - Coordinates: 33.268884, -111.80974 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2689&lon=-111.8097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102244 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102244/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102244 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA038 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in a total 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 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) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: 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 pilot reported that during the preflight inspection, she and the pilot-rated passenger both visually checked the fuel and reported that there was about 13-14 gallons. The fuel gauge showed over half in both fuel tanks. The purpose of the flight was to practice touch-and-go landings. During the last planned touch-and-go landing the fuel gauge indicated on the quarter mark for both fuel tanks. After takeoff and while on upwind, about 300 ft above the ground, the engine lost total power. The pilot then transferred control of the airplane to the pilot-rated passenger, and he maneuvered the airplane for landing towards an empty helipad. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane impacted a ditch and nosed over. The empennage impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The owner of the airplane reported that he estimated the airplane had about 8 gallons of fuel remaining based on the airplane’s recent flight history. The pilot who flew the airplane prior to the accident stated that he returned with about 7 gallons of fuel onboard. The owner reported that the accident flight time was 1 hour and 27 minutes. The owner estimated the fuel rate used and reported that it exceeded the fuel on board for the flight time. The airplane was not refueled before the accident flight. The owner reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8700G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8700G-2023-01-19), registration cancelled 2023-01-19, S/N 15062800, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F - 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: 15062800 - Year built: 1966 - Airframe hours: 3576.51 - Engines: Continintal O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Unknown, October 15, 2020 - Departed: KCHD, Chandler, AZ - Airport: CHD, Chandler, runway 4R, 4,870 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 170 total, 1 in this make and model, 98.4 as pilot in command, 17.5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,155 total, 0 in this make and model, 2,022.7 as pilot in command, 202.9 in the last 90 days, 88.9 in the last 30 days, 2.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: KCHD - METAR: KCHD 061547Z 12005KT 10SM CLR 28/M02 A2978 ## 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 20201106020539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201106020539A), Nov 6, 2020: Cessna 150F, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. On November 06, 2020, at approximately 08:06 MST, a Cessna aircraft N8700G, model 150F, serial number 15062800, experienced engine failure inflight, while… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102244. 7.8 MB in all. - Pilot aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11641884&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120%20038_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11642265&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Owner%206120%20038_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11645753&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20CONVERSATION%20038-Rel.pdf - Statement from prior rental pilot (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11642175&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Prior%20rental%20pilot%20statement%20for%20N694KS_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11641545&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20photo%20033-Rel.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.