Granite Shoals, TX, USA
N6917F
Cessna 150
The pilot reported that he last fueled the airplane about 5 months before the accident. Before the flight, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection and sumped both wing fuel tanks. The left fuel tank had some sediment present, but as he continued sumping the fuel became clear. The fuel in the right fuel tank ran clear. After engine start, the left tank fuel gauge indicated near empty, and the right fuel tank gauge indicated about 1/4 full. Subsequently, the pilot took off for a personal cross-country flight. After starting a right turn, and about 600 ft above ground level, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot then attempted to turn back to the airport but realized that the airplane was too low, so he executed a forced landing to a field with small trees, during which the left wing struck a tree, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing. The pilot reported that, after the accident, he found more sediment in the left tank. He stated that he believed that the low fuel state and the sediment in the left tank may have starved the engine of fuel during the turn and that having more fuel onboard would have “probably been helpful.” However, it is more likely that, due to the low fuel state, when the pilot conducted the right turn, the fuel became unported, resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
On March 6, 2019, about 1300 central standard time, a Cessna 150F, N6917F, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing near Granite Shoals/Bob Sylvester Airpark (2G5), Granite Shoals, Texas. The pilot and 1 child passenger were not injured and another child passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the flight's purpose was to reposition the aircraft to San Marcos, Texas, to conduct an annual inspection. The pilot recalled that he last refueled the airplane in October of 2018 with about 8 gallons, about 5 months prior to the accident flight. Prior to the flight, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection and sumped both wing fuel tanks. The left fuel tank was virtually empty and had some sediment present, but then became clear. The right fuel tank sump was clear. After engine start, the left fuel tank gauge indicated near empty, and right fuel tank gauge indicated about 1/4 full. The pilot stated that he started a right turn after takeoff, and about 600 ft above the ground, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot then attempted to turn back to the airport but realized that he was too low. He executed a forced landing to a field vegetated with small trees. During the forced landing, the left wing struck a small mesquite tree and spun the airplane around 180-degrees, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and two children passengers (6 and 4 years old) exited the airplane. The airplane was not equipped with child safety seating. After the accident, the pilot reported that he discovered more sediment remaining in the left tank. The pilot reported on the NTSB Form 6120 that he believes that the low fuel state and sediment in left tank may have starved the engine during first turn when gravity pulled from left tank, and that more fuel on board would have probably been helpful.
The pilot's decision to takeoff with a limited amount of fuel onboard, which unported during a turn, resulting in fuel starvation and a subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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