N3003S

Substantial
Minor

CESSNA 150G S/N: 15066903

Accident Details

Date
Monday, July 11, 1994
NTSB Number
LAX94LA280
Location
TUCSON, AZ
Event ID
20001206X01776
Coordinates
32.059558, -111.419639
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

AN ENGINE POWER LOSS FROM FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N3003S
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
15066903
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
150G C150
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Analysis

On July 11, 1994, at 0748 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 150G, N3003S, collided with the terrain after making a forced landing in a vacant field off the departure end of runway 6R at Ryan Field, Tucson, Arizona. The student pilot experienced a loss of engine power after takeoff from a series of eight touch-and-go landings. The aircraft was operated by Windwalker Aviation of Tucson. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight.

According to Federal Aviation Administration inspectors and the operator, the right fuel tank was found empty and the left fuel tank had about 10 gallons of fuel in it at the time of takeoff. The student pilot did not fuel the aircraft before the flight. He estimated he had about 8 gallons of fuel for a 1 hour flight at 6 gallons per hour. The flight lasted about .9 hours and was conducted in the traffic pattern.

A mechanic at the airfield reported that the right fuel tank was empty and the left fuel tank was extensively damaged and had a small amount of fuel remaining. He was not able to obtain an accurate measurement of the fuel remaining. He also reported there was no evidence of fuel leakage.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX94LA280