Napa, CA, USA
N60816
Cessna 150J
The airplane lost engine power and nosed over during a forced landing. The pilot performed a preflight inspection of the airplane and checked the fuel quantity in each wing tank using a fuel measuring stick. He reported that there was no fuel in the left fuel tank, and 5.5 gallons of usable fuel in the right fuel tank. The pilot stated that he had more than enough fuel for the expected 19-minute flight. He performed an engine run-up and executed a normal takeoff. After clearing the mountains west of the departure airport, he radioed the air traffic control tower at the destination airport and requested a special visual flight rules (SVFR) clearance for runway 18. The controller told the pilot to remain outside the class delta airspace and to expect a 10-minute delay for landing. The pilot remained outside the airspace by maneuvering in right circles over a landmark. The pilot said that at this point, the fuel in the right tank lost contact with the fuel pickup port and the engine lost power. The pilot could not make it to the airport from his location and chose to land in a field approximately 5 miles north of the airport. The pilot successfully landed in the field; however, when the nose wheel touched down it dug into the soil and the airplane nosed over. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane on scene and reported that he found no fuel in the left fuel tank and no more than 6 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank.
On July 26, 2006, about 0845 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N60816, lost engine power and nosed over during an emergency landing near Napa County Airport (KAPC), Napa, California. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed Nut Tree Airport (KVCB), Vacaville, California, about 0830, with a planned destination of Napa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot submitted a written report. He arrived at Nut Tree airport at 0810 and performed a preflight inspection of the airplane. The pilot checked the fuel quantity in each wing tank using a fuel measuring stick. He reported that there was no fuel in the left fuel tank, and approximately 5.5 gallons of usable fuel was in the right wing tank. The pilot stated he had "more than enough fuel for the 19 minute flight to Napa County Airport." He performed an engine run-up before takeoff and the engine ran within normal operating limits. The pilot executed a normal takeoff and climbed to 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl). After clearing the mountains west of Nut Tree, he radioed Napa's air traffic control tower and requested a special visual flight rules (SVFR) clearance for runway 18. The controller informed the pilot to "remain outside Napa's class delta airspace and to expect a 10-minute delay for landing." The pilot remained outside the airspace by maneuvering in right circles over Mt. George. The pilot stated, "the fuel in the right tank lost contact with the fuel pickup and the airplane lost engine power." During the pilot's efforts to restart the engine, it gained power for about 20 seconds then quit again. The pilot informed the tower controller that he would not make it to the airport for landing, and that he would land in a field approximately 5 miles north of Napa Airport. He maneuvered the airplane over the field while losing altitude and configured the airplane for landing. There were houses and other obstacles in the vicinity of the field; therefore, the pilot did not extend the flaps in order to maintain as much airspeed and altitude for as long as possible. When the airplane entered ground effect, approximately 15-20 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot executed a right slip and kept the nose high to bleed off airspeed. He lined the airplane's nose up just before the airplane touched down. The main wheels touched down hard, and the airplane traveled another 20-30 feet before the nose wheel touched down. Upon contact with the ground, the nose gear buckled underneath the airplane, causing the airplane to nose over. A representative from the Federal Aviation Administration inspected the airplane on scene and reported that he found no fuel in the left fuel tank and no more than 6 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank. According to the Cessna 150 owner's manual, standard wing tanks will hold a total of 26 gallons of fuel, 13 gallons in each wing tank. There are 22.5 total gallons of usable fuel and 3.5 gallons of unusable fuel evenly split between the two tanks.
a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The fuel starvation was the result of the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation (failure to refuel the airplane before taking off) and his inadequate in-flight decision (to make right turns while holding) that directly led to an unporting of the right fuel tank.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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