# NTSB WPR23LA309: Cessna 150M, N66165, Dune City, OR, July 28, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 28, 2023, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Dune City, OR
- Coordinates: 43.883773, -124.13721 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8838&lon=-124.1372&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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192832
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA309
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192832/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192832
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA309

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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: [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [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: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was enroute to acquire additional fuel but ran out of fuel and experienced a total loss of engine power before reaching the destination. The airplane collided with trees during the forced landing, substantially damaging both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N66165 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15075887
- Engines: Teledyne Continental O-200-A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Cape Blanco, OR
- Destination: Dunes Park, OR
- Airport: 5S6, Cape Blanco
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,800 total, 2,800 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KOTH, 29 nm away
- METAR: METAR KOTH 182356Z 36023G31KT 10SM CLR 18/13 A3006

## 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 20230728013689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230728013689A), Jul 28, 2023: Cessna 150M, Dune City, OR, Destroyed. Pilot lost power during cruise. During landing impacted trees destroying the aircraft.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192832. 2.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16460685&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N66165_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 242 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16460795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photograph%20N66165-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.

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