Primary finding
Probable cause
inadequate prelight planning/preparation by the pilot and the subsequent inadequate fuel supply.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The airplane lost all engine power immediately after taking off from a private airstrip. The solo private pilot made a forced landing on an adjacent farm field. The pilot was en route to a local airport to have an annual inspection performed on his airplane. The pilot reported he attempted to takeoff with 1/8 of a tank of automotive fuel in each wing tank. The airplane was equipped with two 26 gallon fuel tanks, each with an unusable fuel amount of 3.5 gallons.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 6, 1994, about 1845 central daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N7760F, experienced a loss of engine power immediately after taking off from a private airstrip in East Tawas, Michigan. The solo private pilot made a forced landing on an adjacent field. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot received serious injuries. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions under 14 CFR Part 91 without flight plan. The pilot was en route to Iosco County Airport, East Tawas, Michigan, to have an annual inspection performed on the airplane. In a statement made to the FAA, the pilot reported he attempted to takeoff with 1/8 of a tank of automotive fuel in each wing. The pilot also stated that he has experienced this same type of incident in the past when he had attempted to takeoff with low fuel. A postaccident examination was performed. The airplane was equipped with two 26 gallons fuel tanks. The attached Fuel Quantity Data Chart from the Cessna Owner's Manual for this airplane, indicates the amount of unusable fuel in each tank is 3.50 gallons. Calculating the amount of fuel aboard the airplane prior to takeoff, using the pilot's estimate, the airplane had 3.25 gallons in each tank. -