Pilot Debrief

Cessna 150 near SHELBY, NC — 2020-06-22

Final reportERA20CA226
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Date
2020-06-22
Location
SHELBY, NC, USA
Airport
EHO
Aircraft
Cessna 150
Registration
N1718Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight and inflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he completed a preflight inspection of the airplane he had recently purchased and departed with full fuel tanks. During the flight, while receiving flight following services from air traffic control, he was requested to adjust his heading and was eventually routed back on course. When the airplane was about 3 miles from the destination airport, the engine "sputter[ed]." The pilot verified that the fuel shutoff was on, primed the engine, and pumped the throttle with little improvement from the engine. He noted that when the airplane was pitched down, the engine would "sputter," and when it was pitched up, the engine would run. He checked the fuel quantity, and the left fuel gauge indicated 1/8 usable fuel and the right tank indicated "almost" 1/4 usable fuel. The pilot decided the airplane would not be able to make the airport and located a field to perform a forced landing. During the accident sequence, the airplane experienced a hard landing and the engine mount and left wing were substantially damaged. After the airplane was recovered, the pilot drained the unbreached fuel tanks and 3 gallons were removed from the airplane. According to the airplane Pilot Operating Handbook, the airplane held 26 total gallons of fuel, of which 22.5 gallons were useable. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident, however, the right fuel gauge was slightly incorrect.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have landed with more fuel before engine sputtered.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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