Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 150M near Lexington, KY — 2009-07-28

Final reportERA09CA426
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Date
2009-07-28
Location
Lexington, KY, USA
Airport
LEX
Aircraft
CESSNA 150M
Registration
N6433K
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel manangement.

NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on the outbound leg of a cross country flight with the fuel tanks filled to "1/8-inch below the solid ring of the [fuel filler] neck." He departed on the return leg of the flight without refueling the airplane, and about 6 miles prior to reaching the final destination, the engine lost power. The pilot adjusted the engine controls, which restored engine power briefly, but it again lost power, and he subsequently performed a forced landing. The airplane touched down, struck a fence, and was substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that there was no odor of fuel, no evidence of fuel spillage, and that the airplane contained less than 8 quarts of fuel at the scene. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated "even though indications were that there was sufficient fuel for the return flight, getting fuel at [the departure airport] as a precaution would have prevented the accident."

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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