Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA95LA038

FORT PIERCE, FL, USA

Aircraft #1

N9436U

CESSNA 150M

Analysis

THE PILOT BECAME LOST WHILE ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. WHILE MANEUVERING TO LAND AT AN AIRPORT THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN TREES TO THE WEST OF THE AIRPORT.

Factual Information

On December 12, 1994, about 1405 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M, N9436U, registered to Cecilys Flight Center, Inc., crashed into trees while making a forced landing following total loss of engine power near Fort Pierce, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the student pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated at Fort Myers, Florida, on December 12, 1994, about 1200. The pilot stated he was flying from Fort Myers, Florida, to Melbourne, Florida. En route he drifted south of course. He calculated he had 1/2 hour of fuel remaining and flew over what he thought to be the Vero Beach Airport. He then flew south of the airport with the intentions of contacting the control tower for landing. The engine then lost power and he made a forced landing in trees. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector indicated the aircraft had crashed 5 miles west of the St. Lucie County Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida. The aircraft did not contain any usable fuel and that there were no signs of precrash or postcrash fuel system leakage.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND BECAME LOST AND OPERATED THE AIRCRAFT UNTIL FUEL EXHAUSTION.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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