Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL AND THE RESULTANT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 31, 1994, approximately 1200 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N5580G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Silver City, New Mexico. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
At 1040, the airplane departed Grant County Airport, Hurley, New Mexico, on a flight to Whiskey Creek Airport; which is 8 nautical miles north northwest of Grant County Airport. The airplane lost power 6 nautical miles from Grant County Airport in an area of rising terrain. During the landing flare/touchdown in rough and uneven terrain, the airplane struck a barbed wire fence and came to rest inverted. Structural damaged occurred to the fuselage, horizontal stabilizer, and wings.
Local authorities reported the airplane departed with 1/4 tank of fuel and the accident occurred at 1200. According to a witness who was at the accident site during the recovery of the airplane there was no physical evidence of fuel.
A mechanic with FAA inspection authorization (AI), inspected the airplane after it was recovered and found no evidence of fuel in either fuel tank. Fuel did not flow from the gascolator when the strainer drain was placed in the open position.
According to the pilot operator report there was no mechanical malfunction failure.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW94LA255