Cessna 150 N6411K

Summary

On 7 May 1989 at about 20:30 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N6411K, operated by Barnes, Virgil L., was involved in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 May 1989 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Anoka Co (ANE)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N6411K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Barnes, Virgil L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alexandria → Minneapolis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC89LA106

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOTS FAILURE TO PROPERLY CALCULATE FUEL CONSUMPTION WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADEQUATE FUEL RESERVE AND FUEL EXHAUSTION PRIOR TO REACHING HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTANT STALL INTO TREES WHILE TRYING TO FLY TO THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS FAILURE TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT A CLOSER AIRPORT WHEN HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE LAST LEG OF A STUDENT, SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO TO MIS-FIRE ABOUT 25 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION ARPT. HE APPLIED CARB HEAT AND RICHENED THE MIXTURE, WHICH RESTORED NORMAL ENGINE OPERATION. ABOUT 6 MILES FROM DESTINATION, THE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN BEGAN MISSING AND APPLICATION OF CARB HEAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. ABOUT 3 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION ARPT, THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED ON THE ARPT, BUT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND CRASHED SOUTHEAST OF THE INTENDED RUNWAY. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREE TOPS, THEN STRUCK THE WET, MARSHY TERRAIN AND OVERTURNED. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE STOPPED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE ACFT HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR APRX 1 HOUR SINCE THE LAST TAKEOFF POINT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.