Primary finding
Probable cause
Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
Approximately 20 minutes from the planned destination, and 2 hours and 5 minutes after departure, a total loss of engine power occurred. During the forced landing to an uneven field, the nose gear collapsed. An on site examination of the fuel system revealed that the left fuel tank did not contain fuel and the right fuel tank contained less than one gallon of fuel.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 1, 1993, at approximately 0915 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N66081, sustained substantial damage near Bald Knob, Arkansas, during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight. During interviews, conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, with the pilot the following information was revealed. The pilot departed Lexington, Mississippi, at 0710 after adding ten gallons of fuel for the planned two hour flight to Batesville, Arkansas. Approximately 20 minutes from the destination, the engine lost power. A forced landing was initiated to a field. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed when it hit a hole in the uneven terrain. The Pilot/Operator report submitted to the Safety Board, revealed that fuel on board at departure was 19 gallons. During an on site examination of the fuel system by a FAA inspector, the fuel tank integrity had not been compromised and no fuel was found in the left fuel tank and less than one gallon was found in the right fuel tank. -