Cessna 150F N8092S

Summary

On 1 October 1999 at about 03:40 local time, a Cessna 150F registered N8092S was involved in an accident near Poteau, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 October 1999 at 03:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Poteau, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Robert S. Kerr (RKR)

Coordinates

35.0392, -94.6305

Aircraft

Cessna 150F

Registration

N8092S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Henryetta → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

FTW99LA272

1 person died.

The instructor pilot's inadequate in-flight decision making, which resulted in the continued flight with a disabled generator and subsequent total failure of the electrical system. Factors were the installation of the inadequate generator fuse by unknown person(s), the instructor's failure to refuel the airplane prior to the flight, and the dark night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot planned the night cross-country flight; however, the flight instructor performed the fuel calculations by using a 4-hour fuel endurance minus the student's flight time to the origination airport. The instructor determined that there was enough fuel for the flight and elected not to have the fuel tanks filled prior to the flight. During the first leg of the flight, the generator warning light illuminated. The student indicated to the instructor that he thought it was an indication problem and not a generator problem. The instructor and student elected to continue the flight, performing touch-and-go landings at two separate airports. On the third/last leg of the flight, after the instructor noticed the fuel gauges reading empty in one fuel tank and 1/4 full in the other, the student informed the instructor that his airplane only had a 3.5-hour fuel endurance. During the last leg of the flight, the electrical system failed. Due to the low fuel status, the instructor did not divert to an airport with automatic runway lighting, but continued to the original destination airport, which had a pilot controlled runway light system. The instructor attempted two approaches with no runway or aircraft lighting. On the second approach, the airplane impacted the ground and a ditch. A work order included in the maintenance records indicated that the generator 'fuses' were 'replaced' 2.5 months prior to the accident. Examination of the electrical system revealed that a 30-amp fuse was installed in the generator fuse holder, and the fuse had 'blown.' The aircraft's electrical system required a 35-amp generator fuse.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.