Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
inadequate prelight planning/preparation by the pilot and the subsequent inadequate fuel supply.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On August 6, 1994, about 1845 central daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N7760F, experienced a loss of engine power immediately after taking off from a private airstrip in East Tawas, Michigan. The solo private pilot made a forced landing on an adjacent field. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot received serious injuries. The flight operated in visual meteorological conditions under 14 CFR Part 91 without flight plan.
The pilot was en route to Iosco County Airport, East Tawas, Michigan, to have an annual inspection performed on the airplane. In a statement made to the FAA, the pilot reported he attempted to takeoff with 1/8 of a tank of automotive fuel in each wing. The pilot also stated that he has experienced this same type of incident in the past when he had attempted to takeoff with low fuel.
A postaccident examination was performed. The airplane was equipped with two 26 gallons fuel tanks. The attached Fuel Quantity Data Chart from the Cessna Owner's Manual for this airplane, indicates the amount of unusable fuel in each tank is 3.50 gallons. Calculating the amount of fuel aboard the airplane prior to takeoff, using the pilot's estimate, the airplane had 3.25 gallons in each tank.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI94LA269