Fuel Exhaustion: Cessna 150M, N714ER; accident occurred February 15, 2020 near Wadsworth Municipal Airport (3G3), Ohio

 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Cleveland, Ohio

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/N714ER

Location: Wadsworth, Ohio 

Accident Number: CEN20LA092

Date & Time: February 15, 2020, 13:00 Local

Registration: N714ER

Aircraft: Cessna 150 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Fuel exhaustion

Injuries: 1 Minor

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Factual Information

On February 15, 2020, about 1300 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M airplane, N714ER, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power near Wadsworth, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The flight was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 as a personal flight.

The pilot reported that while on approach to land on runway 20 at the Wadsworth Municipal Airport, Wadsworth, Ohio, the airplane's engine lost power. The airplane landed about 300 yards short of the runway. Substantial damage was sustained to an engine mount.

The pilot visually checked the fuel tanks and estimated 7 gallons total prior to flight. The airplane flew 2 legs for slightly over an hour of flight time. Following the accident, a local mechanic drained approximately 2 gallons of fuel from the airplane. The airplane type certificate data sheet lists 3.5 gallons of fuel are unusable. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors were unable to find any evidence that the airplane had been fueled prior to the accident flight. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private

Age: 58, Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter 

Restraint Used: 3-point

Instrument Rating(s): Helicopter

Second Pilot Present: No

Instructor Rating(s): None 

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam: March 14, 2019

Occupational Pilot: No

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

Flight Time: 2800 hours (Total, all aircraft), 56 hours (Total, this make and model), 929 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Cessna 

Registration: N714ER

Model/Series: 150 M 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Year of Manufacture: 1976

Amateur Built: No

Airworthiness Certificate: Normal

Serial Number: 15079124

Landing Gear Type: Tricycle

Seats: 2

Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1601 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection:

Engines: 1 Reciprocating

Airframe Total Time: 

Engine Manufacturer: Continental

ELT: 

Engine Model/Series: O-200 SERIES

Registered Owner:

Rated Power: 100 Horsepower

Operator: On file 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KBJJ,1137 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles

Observation Time: 17:56 Local

Direction from Accident Site: 217°

Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear

Visibility: 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling: None 

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots / 

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  /

Wind Direction: 160°

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  /

Altimeter Setting: 30.25 inches Hg 

Temperature/Dew Point: -3°C / -10°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Ravenna, OH (POV )

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Destination: Wadsworth, OH (3G3 )

Type of Clearance: None

Departure Time: 12:30 Local

Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: Wadsworth Muni 3G3

Runway Surface Type: Asphalt

Airport Elevation: 973 ft msl 

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 20 

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 3529 ft / 75 ft

VFR Approach/Landing: Traffic pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 Minor

Latitude, Longitude: 41.003055,-81.756385(est)