Primary finding
Probable cause
Improper in-flight planning/decision by the pilot, after encountering unfavorable winds and a low fuel level, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. The unfavorable wind was a related factor.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
On a cross-country flight from waterloo, iowa, to omaha, nebraska, the pilot encountered stronger winds than he had used in his flight planning. When he entered the omaha arsa, he communicated concern about his fuel situation to approach control, but did not declare an emergency. Approach control advised the pilot of a closer field to use as an alternate. The pilot elected to continue flight to his intended destination. Loss of power due to fuel exhaustion occurred five miles from the airport. Subsequently, the airplane was damaged during a forced landing.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 11, 1993, at 1100 central daylight time, a Cessna C-150H, N23205, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power in cruise flight near Crescent, Iowa. The private pilot and the single passenger aboard the airplane were not injured. The personal flight originated at Waterloo, Iowa, at 0800 with an intended destination of Omaha, Nebraska. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot reported he encountered stronger winds than he had used in his flight planning. He stated he communicated to approach control that he was concerned about his fuel situation when he reached the Omaha Airport Radar Service Area (ARSA). He did not declare an emergency. Omaha Approach Control advised the pilot of another airport available, but he elected to continue to his destination. The pilot stated, "five miles out, my airplane started sputtering and I ran out of fuel." -