Cessna 150K N5813G

Summary

On 1 January 1997 at about 18:41 local time, a Cessna 150K registered N5813G was involved in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were 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 January 1997 at 18:41

Classification

Accident

Location

Daytona Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Daytona Beach Int'l (DAB)

Coordinates

29.1904, -81.0494

Aircraft

Cessna 150K

Registration

N5813G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA054

2 people were seriously injured.

the pilot's improper planning/decision, by failing to ensure there was sufficient fuel for continued flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent collision with objects (concrete blocks) during a forced landing. Factors relating to the accident were: a partially inoperative fuel gauge, which provided a false fuel indication, and the pilot's operation of the airplane with the known deficiency.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before the first of several legs of flight, the pilot used a wooden stick to confirm the fuel quantity, since one of the fuel gauges was inoperative. He then departed, performed airwork, and continued to a landmark, where a flyby was performed. The pilot landed at an airport, remained a short time, then during the preflight, he noted that the fuel quantity indicated about 1/2. The flight departed, and the pilot flew to another airport, and performed a full stop landing with taxiback. He then departed on a return flight to the original departure airport, where he performed two touch-and-go landings. During the takeoff roll of the third touch-and-go, the pilot noted that the engine was not producing full power; however, with insufficient runway remaining to stop, he elected to continue. About 200 feet above ground level, the engine coughed, then the propeller stopped. Subsequently, the airplane collided with concrete blocks during a forced landing. The pilot stated to a police officer that he believed the engine quit because he ran out of fuel. Postcrash examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed 3.0 gallons of fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. According to the airplane type certificate data sheet, the unusable fuel quantity was 3.5 gallons. Following recovery of the airplane, the engine was started, and it operated to 750 rpm. Impact damage precluded operating the engine to a higher rpm.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.