Cessna 150J, N61024: Accident occurred February 03, 2018 in El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Earl V Long III dba Westport Airport

http://registry.faa.gov/N61024

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

Location: El Dorado, KS
Accident Number: GAA18CA124
Date & Time: 02/03/2018, 1830 CST
Registration: N61024
Aircraft: CESSNA 150
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis 

The pilot reported that en route, he noticed a drop in the airplane's engine RPM. He noted that the fuel shut off valve was open, and the gas gauges showed half full in the right tank and quarter full in the left tank. He added that the carburetor heat was off, the mixture was full rich, and then the engine quit running. During the third attempt to restart the engine, it briefly started and then quit again. Subsequently, during an off-airport landing in a field, the airplane nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He added, that he had filled the gas "to the top" (22.5 gallons) prior to departure and had flown for 3.7 hours.

The 1969 Cessna 150 owner's manual states that the airplane's maximum range was 4.1 hours with no reserve at 75% power at 7,000 ft.

The pilot further reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge that, he did not consult the emergency checklist as it was placed in the glovebox.

FAA inspectors drained the fuel tanks about 5 days after the accident and reported that there was no evidence of fuel leakage around the fuel caps or on the ground. They drained about 8-12 ounces from the left wing tank and about ¾ of a gallon from the right wing tank. The FAA added that the engine showed proper continuity and the magnetos were operational. The engine was not run due to a fractured intake manifold just above the carburetor base flange. The fracture damage to the intake manifold was consistent with impact damage.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent off-airport landing and nose-over.

Findings

Aircraft
Fuel - Fluid level (Cause)

Personnel issues
Fuel planning - Pilot (Cause)
Use of checklist - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Enroute
Fuel exhaustion (Defining event)
Loss of engine power (total)
Attempted remediation/recovery

Off-field or emergency landing

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 31, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/07/2013
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/10/2017
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 95 hours (Total, all aircraft), 95 hours (Total, this make and model), 33 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: CESSNA
Registration: N61024
Model/Series: 150 J
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1969
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal; Utility
Serial Number: 15070742
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 02/02/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1600 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 5311 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: C91A installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-200 SERIES
Registered Owner: LONG EARL V III DBA
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KAAO, 1421 ft msl
Observation Time: 2354 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 26 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 254°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 8°C / -2°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots, 210°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 29.77 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: LAWRENCE, KS (LWC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: WICHITA, KS (71K)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: CST
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude:  37.870000, -96.690000 (est)

A plane has crashed in eastern Butler County.  Emergency crews rushed to the site of the crash landing just after 7:00 Saturday evening about five miles north of Rosalia.  A Cessna 150 with two people on-board crashed and ended up upside down in a field.  No one was injured in the crash.  No word on what caused the crash at this time.

Story and photo gallery ➤ http://www.kake.com