WASHINGTON, MO, USA
N5255Q
CESSNA 150
THE CFI STATED THE STUDENT PREFLIGHTED THE AIRPLANE AND REPORTED THE FUEL TANKS WERE HALF FULL. THE CFI FAILED TO VERIFY THE FUEL LEVEL. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT PLOWED FIELD.
On February 20, 1995, at 1200 central standard time, a Cessna 150, N5255Q, operated by Phoenix Aviation of Chesterfield, Missouri, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing. The instructional flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) and a student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Chesterfield, Missouri, at 1140 cst. The CFI stated he conducted a preflight brief with the student then he instructed the student to preflight the airplane. He stated he questioned the student regarding the fuel quantity on board the airplane and the student stated the fuel tanks were half full. The CFI stated he did not visually look into the tanks himself to verify this information. The CFI stated that after departing the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, they practiced airwork then continued to the Washington Memorial Airport where a touch and go was made on runway 34. The CFI stated that during the takeoff climb, the engine lost power. A forced landing was made in a plowed field approximately 1/2 mile northeast of the airport. During the forced landing, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that neither fuel tank contained any fuel. The airplane was flow 3.6 hours on the day prior to the accident. It had not been refueled after this flight. The accident flight was approximately .4 hours in duration. The airplane was righted and the engine started and ran without incident once fuel was added to the airplane.
the CFI's failure to verify the fuel quantity prior to takeoff which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors related to the accident were the student's misjudgment of the fuel quantity and the soft terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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