Burbank, CA, USA
N3937U
Cessna 150E
After waiting about 55 minutes for a fuel truck to service his airplane, the pilot noted that the airplane's fuel tank gauges registered 1/4-full, so he took off on the banner tow flight. Fuel exhaustion occurred about 26 minutes later. Unable to reach the nearest airport, the pilot made a forced landing on a hillside. A police officer examined the airplane and reported that no fuel was found in its tanks. The pilot indicated that no mechanical malfunction or failure had precipitated the loss of engine power. The pilot had about 4,000 hours of flight time, of which 1,100 hours were acquired flying the Cessna 150. He held a certified flight instructor certificate for airplanes, an instrument rating, and an airframe and engine powerplant certificate.
On June 16, 2001, about 1945 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150E, N3937U, experienced a total loss of engine power during a banner tow operation over Burbank, California. The airplane was operated by Red Baron Air, in Pacoima, California, and was owned by the pilot. During the pilot's forced landing, the airplane impacted vegetation-covered terrain behind a residence and was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial certificated pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from the Whiteman Airport, Los Angeles, California, about 1915. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he had requested his airplane be refueled prior to taking off. However, after waiting about 55 minutes the fuel truck had not serviced the airplane. The pilot said that he then checked the tanks visually, and the fuel gauges indicated 1/4-full. Believing that he had adequate fuel for the planned 40-minute-long flight, he took off. The pilot further indicated that after flying for about 26 minutes he experienced the first indications of fuel starvation. He was unable to reach the nearest airport, so he made a forced landing without engine power on a hillside. A Burbank Police Department officer verbally reported to the Safety Board investigator that no fuel was found in the airplane's fuel tanks. In the pilot's completed accident report, he acknowledged that no mechanical malfunction or failure had precipitated the loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he had about 4,000 hours of flight time, of which 1,100 hours were acquired flying the Cessna 150. He held a certified flight instructor certificate for airplanes, an instrument rating, and an airframe and engine powerplant certificate.
Fuel exhaustion while maneuvering during a banner tow flight due to an inadequate fuel supply. A factor was the pilot's improper preflight preparation.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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