Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper inflight planning and decision, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent forced landing and collision with trees.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that while cruising, he became concerned about the fuel supply. He changed his destination to a closer airport, but the engine quit before reaching that airport. He performed a forced landing to a field; overshot the landing site and impacted trees. The FAA found no fuel in one tank and a small quantity of fuel in the other. The pilot had a total of 5.3 hours in this model airplane and 3.5 hours in the last 90 days.
Source record
Factual narrative
On Saturday, May 21, 1994, at 1437 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N3335V, piloted by Robert G. Gannon, and registered to Sky Park, Inc., sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in Addison, New York. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot departed Cleveland, Ohio, destined for Binghamton, New York. During the flight, he became concerned about the fuel supply; therefore, he changed his destination to a closer airport near Elmira, New York. Before he could land, the engine quit. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field; however, he overshot the field and impacted trees. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, Lauren C. Dates, examined the wreckage and observed no fuel in the left tank and about 3 gallons in the right tank. The pilot had a total flight time of 90 hours, with 5.3 hours in the Cessna 150. He had flown a total of 3.5 hours in the last 90 days, all of which was in this make and model. -