Primary finding
Probable cause
Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel. Factors were the pilot's disorientation and lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
After approximately 2 hours of cross country flight, the private pilot executed a forced landing after a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he had difficulty locating his intended destination and was diverting to another airfield when the loss of power occurred. The pilot further reported that he executed a 'smooth landing' in a farmer's field; however, the aircraft struck a barbed wire fence after approximately 435 feet of landing roll. After striking the fence, the aircraft came to rest inverted. During aircraft recovery, no usable fuel was found in the fuel tanks.
Source record
Factual narrative
On January 19, 1995, approximately 1830 central standard time, a Cessna 150, N704CH, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in the vicinity of Prescott, Arkansas. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight. During an interview, the pilot stated that after "topping off the fuel tanks", he departed Terrell, Texas (TRL) on a flight to Hope, Arkansas. He stated that he had difficulty locating the airport at Hope and decided to divert to Kizer Field (4F7), near Prescott, Arkansas. While searching for 4F7, the "airplane ran out of fuel and landed in a pasture." The pilot reported that the landing was "smooth." However, after approximately 435 feet of landing roll, the airplane struck a barbed wire fence and came to rest inverted. During aircraft recovery, no usable fuel was found in the fuel tanks. The pilot reported that he was airborne approximately 2 hours after departing TRL. He further related that he should have had about 1 hour of fuel remaining and "could not account for excessive fuel use." -