TRAVERSE CITY, MI, USA
N6763G
CESSNA 150L
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES SOUTH OF HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED ONCE, THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. WHEN ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED, HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A SNOW-COVERED FIELD. DURING POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, INVESTIGATORS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL ON BOARD. INVESTIGATORS DRAINED THE FUEL SYSTEM, OBTAINING A TOTAL OF 1.5 GALLONS OF FUEL (ONE GALLON FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK, AND 1/2 GALLON FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK). THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERED THE LAST 1.75 GALLONS IN EACH FUEL TANK TO BE UNUSABLE FUEL. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES OR AT THE CARBURETOR; THE FUEL TANKS/SYSTEM WAS NOT COMPROMISED DURING THE GROUND IMPACT SEQUENCE.
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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