Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to refuel and the resultant loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The airplane departed without refueling when the gauge showed 1/4 full. The pilot reported a departure five minutes prior to the accident; however, local authorities reported the time of the accident as one hour and 20 minutes after departure. The airplane lost engine power in an area of rising terrain and during the landing flare/touchdown, in rough and uneven terrain, the airplane struck a fence. Structural damage occurred to the fuselage, wing, and vertical stabilizer. Local authorities reported there was no physical evidence of fuel at the site. An FAA mechanic found no evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks or gascolator. According to the pilot operator report there was no mechanical malfunction failure.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 31, 1994, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N5580G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Silver City, New Mexico. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. At 1040, the airplane departed Grant County Airport, Hurley, New Mexico, on a flight to Whiskey Creek Airport; which is 8 nautical miles north northwest of Grant County Airport. The airplane lost power 6 nautical miles from Grant County Airport in an area of rising terrain. During the landing flare/touchdown in rough and uneven terrain, the airplane struck a barbed wire fence and came to rest inverted. Structural damaged occurred to the fuselage, horizontal stabilizer, and wings. Local authorities reported the airplane departed with 1/4 tank of fuel and the accident occurred at 1200. According to a witness who was at the accident site during the recovery of the airplane there was no physical evidence of fuel. A mechanic with FAA inspection authorization (AI), inspected the airplane after it was recovered and found no evidence of fuel in either fuel tank. Fuel did not flow from the gascolator when the strainer drain was placed in the open position. According to the pilot operator report there was no mechanical malfunction failure. -