Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MIA91LA094

GREENWOOD, MS, USA

Aircraft #1

N2949J

CESSNA 150G

Analysis

DURING THE RETURN FLT OF A THREE LEG SOLO CROSS-COUNTRY FLT, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION WHEN THE FLT WAS ABOUT 5 NM SOUTH OF THE DESTINATION ARPT. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PLT LANDED THE ACFT IN A PASTURE & COLLIDED WITH TREES. EXAM OF THE ACFT AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE NOT DAMAGED. THE FUEL TANKS, GASCOLATOR, & CARB BOWL WERE DRAINED WHICH REVEALED THAT THE ACFT CONTAINED LESS THAN 3 GALS OF FUEL. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE TOTAL FUEL QUANTITY IS 26 GALS; OF WHICH 22.5 IS USABLE. THE PLT FURTHER STATED THAT ABOUT 1 HR INTO THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLT, ONE OF THE FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS INDICATED EMPTY ALTHOUGH THE TANK WAS FILLED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

Probable Cause and Findings

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO ABORT THE FLIGHT WHEN ONE OF THE TWO FUEL QUANTITY INDICATORS BECAME INOPERATIVE DURING THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLIGHT. ALSO, INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND POOR SUPERVISION BY THE CFI WHO REVIEWED THE STUDENT'S PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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