JACKSONVILLE, NC, USA
N714RA
Cessna 150M
The flight instructor stated he did not verify the fuel quantity during the student pilot's preflight inspection of the airplane, and he failed to ensure there was sufficient fuel on board the airplane for the cross country flight. While in cruise flight the engine experienced a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The flight instructor performed a forced landing to an open field where the airplane collided with logs and mud boulders during the landing rollout
On November 5, 1999, at about 1258 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M, N714RA, registered to Tarheel Aviation Inc., experienced a reported total loss of engine power in cruise flight in the vicinity of Jacksonville, North Carolina. The pilot made a forced landing and crashed on landing rollout. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, 1 hour 28 minutes before the accident. The CFI stated the student pilot preflighted the airplane. He informed him that the airplane was full of fuel, and that he did not verify the fuel quantity before departing on the cross-country flight from Jacksonville, North Carolina, (OAJ), to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, (CRE), and return back to Jacksonville. They did not purchase any fuel before departing CRE en route to OAJ. They were in cruise flight at 3,500 feet abeam Wilmington, North Carolina, when he observed the fuel gages near empty. He asked the student pilot again if the fuel tanks were full when they departed OAJ, and he replied yes. The engine began to sputter and quit. He informed Wilmington approach that they had an engine failure and were making a forced landing. He made a right turn towards an open field. On final he observed the forced landing area was a swampy area, and contained logs and mud boulders. The nose gear collided with the logs and mud boulders on landing rollout, and collapsed. Both wings and the right horizontal stabilizer sustained substantial damage.
The flight instructor's improper supervision of the student pilot during preflight and improper fuel management ensuring there was sufficient fuel for the planned flight. This resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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