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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

October 23, 1990 · Cessna 150L · N18539

Lexington, KY

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 23, 1990
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Lexington, KY
Aircraft
Cessna 150L
Tail Number
N18539
Operator
Dalton L Peck
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO91LA006

The aircraft was being ferried to the new owner when the accident occurred on the third leg of a flight from Hartford, CT to Dallas, TX. The pilot reported that the fuel tanks were full when he took off at 2020 EDT. He proceeded en route at 4000 ft MSL at a groundspeed of about 96 kts. The pilot stated the fuel mixture was leaned for the flight. About 35 miles from the destination he noticed one fuel quantity gauge indicated near empty, and the second gauge indicated less than half-full. About 10 miles out both gauges indicated near empty. Soon afterwards the engine lost power, but he restarted the engine. However the engine lost power again and he made a forced landing in a field about a mile NE of Lex. About 4 ozs of fuel was drained from the fuel system during the post-accident examination. Fuel consumption calculations indicate about 5 gals of fuel should have remained when the power lost occurred.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION CAUSING FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT WAS BEING FERRIED TO THE NEW OWNER WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE THIRD LEG OF A FLIGHT FROM HARTFORD, CT TO DALLAS, TX. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL WHEN HE TOOK OFF AT 2020 EDT. HE PROCEEDED EN ROUTE AT 4000 FT MSL AT A GROUNDSPEED OF ABOUT 96 KTS. THE PLT STATED THE FUEL MIXTURE WAS LEANED FOR THE FLIGHT. ABOUT 35 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION HE NOTICED ONE FUEL QUANTITY GAGE INDICATED NEAR EMPTY, AND THE SECOND GAGE INDICATED LESS THAN HALF-FULL. ABOUT 10 MILES OUT BOTH GAGES INDICATED NEAR EMPTY. SOON AFTERWARDS THE ENGINE LOST POWER, BUT HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE. HOWEVER THE ENGINE LOST POWER AGAIN AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD ABOUT A MILE NE OF LEX. ABOUT 4 OZS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING THE POST- ACCIDENT EXAMINATION. FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS INDICATE ABOUT 5 GALS OF FUEL SHOULD HAVE REMAINED WHEN THE POWER LOST OCCURRED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time23:56 EDT
Nearest AirportLexington-Bluegrass (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150L
Tail NumberN18539
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDalton L Peck
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200 · Reciprocating · 1
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 24 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind20° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 54
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time03:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data