# NTSB WPR25LA073: Cessna 150D, N5943T, Temple City, CA, January 6, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 6, 2025, 07:58 local (15:58 UTC) - Place: Temple City, CA · 4900 block of Arden Drive in Temple City. - Coordinates: 34.094305, -118.04314 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0943&lon=-118.0431&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - 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): 199516 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199516/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199516 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA073 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s unfamiliarity with the fuel quantities the fuel measuring dip stick measured and inadequate preflight inspection which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that prior to the flight, he had measured the fuel levels in each fuel tank with a dip stick, which he had thought measured useable fuel only. He noted that the airplane had a total of 7 gallons of fuel, which he estimated was adequate for about 1.5 hours of flight time. After takeoff, they briefly flew around the area before returning to the departure airport, where they performed 4 low approaches to the runway before they performed a touch and go landing on the 5th approach. During the initial climb, about 1 hour into the flight, the engine momentarily lost power about 300 ft agl. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and turned towards the airport, however, the engine lost power again and he initiated a forced landing to a road. Shortly after, the engine regained full power for several seconds, and they were able to climb to about 75 ft agl before the engine lost power again. Subsequently, the airplane struck trees and a fence before it came to rest upright, which resulted in substantial damage to the left and right wings. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He added that he misunderstood what the fuel dip stick measured, and that it measured all the fuel in the fuel tank, which included unusable fuel (1.75 gallons in each fuel tank). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5943T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5943T), registered now, S/N 15060643, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150D - Registry model: [Cessna 150D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150d) (registry code 2071810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15060643 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 4380.1 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Mission Flight Academy - Registered owner: Mission Flight Academy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2024, 19 hours before - Departed: EMT, El Monte, CA - Airport: KEMT, San Gabriel Valley Airport - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,800 total, 20 in this make and model, 4,650 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KEMT, 1 nm away - METAR: KEMT 061545Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 08/01 A3010 ## 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 20250106005129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250106005129A), Jan 6, 2025: Cessna 150D, El Monte, CA, Substantial damage. CFI was interviewed by lax FSDO inspector outside [address] at approximately 10:30AM on Monday January 6, 2025. CFI stated that he was the PIC of [privacy data… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199516. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18208704&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18208541&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.