LAS CRUCES, NM, USA
N50788
CESSNA 150J
THE STUDENT PILOT TOOK OFF AND FLEW FOR 50 MINUTES ON WHAT SHE ESTIMATED WAS 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. DURING THE RETURN FLIGHT TO THE AIRPORT, SHE REPORTED THE ENGINE QUIT. SHE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN ROUGH TERRAIN WITH BRUSH AND SHORT MESQUITE BUSHES. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE PLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH WING FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY AND ONLY A TRACE OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM.
THE FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS. FACTORS WERE THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL AND THE HIGH VEGETATION IN WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS PERFORMED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
