# NTSB WPR24LA091: Cessna 150M, N3538V, Everett, WA, February 17, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 16, 2024, 17:28 local (Feb 17, 2024, 01:28 UTC) - Place: Everett, WA · forested terrain short of the runway - Coordinates: 47.9368, -122.28885 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9368&lon=-122.2888&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: 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): 193814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193814/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193814 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA091 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2071830), [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: [Cessna 150M, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071830), [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. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported the airplane contained 10 gallons of fuel before departing for a local area flight. At the conclusion of the flight, and while on final approach for the destination airport, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power with the propeller windmilling. The pilot applied carburetor heat, and increased the mixture to full rich, but was unable to restore power, noting 2 gallons of fuel remaining which was below the amount of 2.5 gallons known to be unusable. The pilot executed a forced landing and impacted treed terrain substantially damaging the airplanes wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3538V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3538V-2024-06-03), registration cancelled 2024-06-03, S/N 15076538, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15076538 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 4483.2 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Puget Sound Flyers Inc - Registered owner: Puget Sound Flyers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2024, 36 hours before - Departed: KCLM, Port Angeles, WA - Destination: KPAE, Everett, WA - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 150 total, 41 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KPAE, 1 nm away - METAR: KPAE 170053Z 16004KT 10SM CLR 09/M06 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP230 T00941061 ## 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 20240216009229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240216009229A), Feb 16, 2024: Cessna 150, Everett, WA, Substantial damage. Student pilot was on an extended right base to final for runway 16 at pae. The pilot said the aircraft started to run rough. Pilot noticed the aircraft losing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193814. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 886 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17459419&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N3538V%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17459122&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Asad%20Ali-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17458756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N3538V%20accident%20photograph-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.