# NTSB WPR23LA026: Cessna 150F, N6492F, Puyallup, WA, October 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 26, 2022, 13:04 local (20:04 UTC) - Place: Puyallup, WA · Open field - Coordinates: 47.21, -122.35 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2100&lon=-122.3500&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 106233 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106233/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106233 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA026 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel management that resulted in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## 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 · 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) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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) ## 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 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) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after completing the first half of a cross country flight, he departed without checking the airplane’s fuel level. Before reaching his destination, the airplane’s engine lost power and the pilot attempted to restart the engine, without success. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open field, where during the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The vertical stabilizer was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that he had exhausted all available fuel and that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6492F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6492F), registered now, S/N 15063092 (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: 15063092 - Airframe hours: 4380 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 27, 2022 - Departed: HQM, Hoquiam, WA - Destination: S50, Auburn, WA - Airport: N/A - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 186 total, 22 in this make and model, 56 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KTCM, 7 nm away - METAR: KTCM 262005Z AUTO 22010KT 10SM SCT026 BKN035 OVC044 12/07 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP201 $ ## 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 20221026023499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221026023499A), Oct 26, 2022: Cessna 150F, Puyallup, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot flying on a solo cross country, was coming back to his home field of auburn (S50). Approximatley 10 minutes from his destination, the engine quit… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106233. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14758408&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA026_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14915462&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20David%20Duncan,%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 237 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14757637&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA026photo_508-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.