DAVIS, OK, USA
N8435M
Cessna 150K
During a solo cross-country flight, the student pilot was unable to locate his destination airport and elected to return to the departure airport. The pilot became disoriented, and after about 3.5 hours since takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing, and the airplane touched down in a rocky area. Examination of the fuel tanks by an FAA inspector revealed no usable fuel.
On March 11, 2000, at 1258 central standard time, a Cessna 150K airplane, N8435M, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Davis, Oklahoma. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Classic Aviation, Inc., of Dallas, Texas. The student pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional solo cross-country flight. The flight originated from the Addison Airport, Dallas, Texas, about 0930, with a planned destination of Sulphur Springs, Texas. During the flight, the student pilot was unable to locate the Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport and elected to return to the Addison Airport. The pilot became disoriented, and after about 3.5 hours since takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing, and the airplane touched down in a rocky area, about 1/4 mile west of Interstate 35's mile marker 46. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the nose landing gear was separated from the fuselage, and the left main landing gear was damaged. The firewall had sustained damage, and the tail aft of the cabin was partially separated. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed no usable fuel. According to the student pilot's flight instructor, on March 8, 2000, he endorsed the student's flight logbook for solo cross-country flight. On the day of the accident, prior to departure, the flight instructor reviewed the student's flight planning for the flight to Sulphur Springs. No problems were noted with the student's flight planning. The student pilot had logged 44 hours prior to the accident flight.
Fuel exhaustion due to the student pilot becoming lost/disoriented. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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