Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 150M near Arrow Rock, MO — 2012-08-24

Final reportCEN12LA583
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Date
2012-08-24
Location
Arrow Rock, MO, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 150M
Registration
N63672
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate fuel management and in-flight decision making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on a local flight with enough fuel for the planned 1-hour flight. However, he flew longer than planned and exhausted the usable fuel as he was returning to land. The engine lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing in a pasture, during which the airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot indicated that he purchased fuel at a local airport during his flight. However, personnel at that airport recalled that the accident airplane performed a touch-and-go landing, and the pilot did not stop or purchase fuel there. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no usable fuel in the fuel tanks or fuel strainer.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot did not verify fuel purchase at VER before departure.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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