Cessna 150L N1741Q

Summary

On 29 August 2014 at about 03:03 local time, a Cessna 150L registered N1741Q, operated by Leggett James W, was involved in an accident near Creedmoor, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and 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

29 August 2014 at 03:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Creedmoor, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

36.0500, -78.6131

Aircraft

Cessna 150L

Registration

N1741Q

Category

Airplane

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Leggett James W

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Louisville → Elizabeth City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ERA14LA411

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to alcohol ingestion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot took off on a cross-cross country flight at night and did not stop for fuel. While the airplane was nearing the destination airport, the engine began to run roughly and then lost all power. The pilot tried to restart the engine but was unsuccessful, so he subsequently conducted a forced landing, and the airplane impacted trees. No fuel odor was noted at the accident site. The fuel tanks remained intact, and no fuel was in the right wing tank, a trace amount of fuel was in the left wing fuel tank, and 2 to 3 ounces of fuel were in the fuel sump. When fuel was added to the carburetor, the engine started and ran. In addition, the fuel gauges were tested, and no anomalies were noted. The unpressurized airplane was equipped with a normally aspirated engine, and its published service ceiling was 12,600 ft mean sea level (msl); however, according to air traffic control (ATC) information, the pilot attempted to climb the airplane to 17,500 ft msl. A review of radar and ATC data revealed that, at the time of the accident, the airplane had been operating for 4 hours 52 minutes and that, although the airplane did not reach 17,500 ft msl, it remained above 12,500 ft msl for 2 hours 40 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 16,000 ft msl. Review of the owner's manual revealed that, at 12,500 ft msl with a lean mixture and 2,500 rpm, the airplane had an endurance of 5.8 hours; however, these calculations did not include fuel consumed during the taxi, takeoff, initial climb, and continued climb attempt to 17,500 ft msl. According to law enforcement, after the accident, the pilot had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, and his eyes were red and glassy. A sample of the pilot's breath was taken on a portable breathalyzer, which recorded a blood alcohol content of 0.16, indicating that the pilot was likely impaired at the time of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.