Cessna 150J N51150

Summary

On 14 May 1994 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 150J registered N51150, operated by McIrvin Aviation, was involved in an accident near Del Rio, Texas, United States. 2 people were 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

14 May 1994 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Del Rio, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.3695, -100.8892

Aircraft

Cessna 150J

Registration

N51150

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

McIrvin Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Alpine → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW94LA161

Nobody was injured.

FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE FLIGHT ORIGINALLY DEPARTED WITH 26 GALLONS OF FUEL. BASED ON HIS FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, THE PILOT ADDED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL DURING AN EN ROUTE STOP. TOTAL FUEL OF 31 GALLONS MINUS THE UNUSABLE FUEL OF 3.5 GALLONS WOULD LEAVE 27.5 GALLONS USABLE FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. THE TOTAL TIME ON THE HOBBS METER WAS 4.8 HOURS. THIS INCLUDED 3 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. FAA CALCULATIONS INDICATED THE PILOT NEEDED 28.8 GALLONS OF FUEL TO MAKE THE TRIP. THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER, WHO HAD 1.7 HOURS OF TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE, ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE BECAUSE THE ONLY SUITABLE TERRAIN APPARENT TO THE PILOTS WAS BEHIND AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE. THEY DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES AND A FENCE DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.