WOLFEBORO, NH, USA
N6106T
Cessna 150E
The pilot fueled his airplane and flew a cross country flight for a total duration of 4 hours. After landing back at his departure airport, the pilot departed for another flight without refueling. The pilot stated that the fuel gauges read 1/4, but on takeoff he ran out of fuel, and the engine lost power. He performed a forced landing straight ahead onto the runway, and struck a mound of dirt beyond the departure end of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed less then 2 gallons of fuel remained in the wing tanks. The Pilot's Operating Handbook stated the fuel tanks contained 3 1/2 gallons of unusable fuel.
On April 5, 1997, about 1530 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150E, N6106T, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff at the Lakes Region Airport, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Wolfeboro. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he filled the airplane's fuel tanks, and then flew a cross country flight to Greenville, Maine, and back. The round trip distance was 250 miles, which included 1 stop. He also stated, "Flew around [a] while in Maine." After he returned to Wolfeboro, he took off for a trip to Laconia, New Hampshire. He further stated: "...Gas gauges were reading 1/4 tank, but both tanks were empty. Took off for 10 minute trip to LCI. Ran out of gas on takeoff." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot stated he fueled the airplane with about 12 gallons of fuel, and then flew between 3 and 4 hours. After landing back at his departure airport, the pilot decided to fly again, and departed without further refueling. During the initial climb after takeoff, about 50 feet above the runway, the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing straight ahead onto the runway, and struck a mound of dirt beyond the departure end of the runway. The FAA Inspector's examination of the airplane revealed less then 2 gallons of fuel remained in the wing tanks. According to the Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook, the fuel tanks contained 3 1/2 gallons of unusable fuel.
The pilot's improper preflight, and failure to refuel the airplane, which resulted in fuel exhaustion during the initial climb after takeoff, and the subsequent forced landing and collision with a mound of dirt.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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