Cessna 150J N50472

Summary

On 27 October 1991 at about 21:15 local time, a Cessna 150J registered N50472, operated by ROY C. COX, was involved in an accident near Hatch, New Mexico, 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

27 October 1991 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Hatch, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

32.6608, -107.1497

Aircraft

Cessna 150J

Registration

N50472

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

ROY C. COX

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moriarty → Las Cruces

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW92LA019

Nobody was injured.

FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND HIS POOR PREFLIGHT AND INFLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL AND THE UNFAVORABLE WINDS ALOFT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS WIFE WENT ON A ROUND ROBIN CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THE FIRST LEG OF THE TRIP WAS UNEVENTFUL. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON THE SECOND LEG, THE PILOT CHECKED THE FUEL QUANTITY BY DIPPING THE TANKS, AND CONFIRMED THAT HE HAD A TOTAL OF 20 GALLONS REMAINING FOR THE RETURN TRIP. WHILE ENROUTE, THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE AROUND WEATHER TO REMAIN CLEAR OF CLOUDS. HIS SITUATION WAS FURTHER AGGRAVATED BY AN ESTIMATED 40 KNOT HEAD WIND. ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AND THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE TWICE FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS BOTH TIMES. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, WITH BOTH OCCUPANTS ESCAPING UNHARMED. ONE FUEL CELL WAS TOTALLY EMPTY AND THE OTHER ONE HAD ABOUT A HALF CUP OF FUEL REMAINING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.