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NTSB Report

August 1, 1999 · Cessna 150M · N3206V

Greenville, SC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 1, 1999
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Location
Greenville, SC
Aircraft
Cessna 150M
Tail Number
N3206V
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA99LA209

The pilot stated he left his origination airport with a topped off left wing tank and 1/4 to 1/2 showing on the right wing tank. At about 3 miles from his destination, at about 1,500 feet agl, the engine vibrated and quit. The pilot tried to glide to an off duty runway but collided with a dirt embankment short of the runway. About 3 quarts of fuel were drained from the airplane's total fuel system, postcrash, and no evidence of any precrash fuel leakage could be found.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power while in descent for landing due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to properly plan and load the fuel required, and the subsequent collision with the terrain during a forced landing.

Full Narrative

On August 1, 1999, about 1354 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N3206V, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed on approach to Donaldson Center Airport, Greenville, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, the private-rated pilot was not injured, and a passenger received minor injuries. The flight originated from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, at 1116. According to the pilot, the fuel onboard when he made his takeoff from Myrtle Beach International Airport was 16 gallons. Most of the cruise portion of the flight was flown at 8,500 feet msl, 2,550 rpm, and mixture leaned. He was in his descent at 2,600 feet msl, and about 3 miles from his landing airport when the airframe and engine began to vibrate and the engine quit. He set up a glide for the nearest possible airport landing site, a closed runway at Donaldson Center Airport, but instead, impacted an embankment short of the runway. According to the FAA inspector, the total amount of fuel remaining in the airplane's fuel system, postcrash, was about 3 quarts. About 1 quart was spilled moving the wreckage, and another 2 quarts were removed, using a 32-ounce container. The wing tanks had not been compromised in the crash and there was no evidence of fuel leakage, precrash. The pilot had mentioned that one of his pre-purchase discrepancies was a leaking gascolator. According to the maintenance records, the fuel selector valve was replaced, and no repeat of the fuel leak was noted. The airplane had undergone an annual inspection about 63 tachometer recorded hours before the accident. From the "Operational Data" chapter of the Cessna 150M operating handbook, the fuel consumption rate at standard atmospheric conditions, with proper leaning, for a cruise altitude of 8,500 feet at 2,550 rpm is about 4.3 gallons/hour and takeoff and climb is another 2.8 gallons. Accordingly, a 2- hour 38-minute flight would use about 14.1 gallons. The accident flight's total usable fuel load , using the pilot's figures, was about 12.5 gallons, (the Cessna 150M operating handbook states the fuel system contains unusable fuel of 3.5 gallons).

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:54 EDT
Nearest AirportGreenville-Donaldson Cen (1nm SSE)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150M
Tail NumberN3206V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured1
Total2
Crew 1Age 29 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind5 kt
Visibility9 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point10 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data