N7446G

On December 27, 1994, at 1247 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 150L, N7446G, collided with power lines and trees in a residential area of North Las Vegas, Nevada, following fuel exhaustion. The aircraft was owned and operated by Pacific Air College of Ramona, California, and was on a student solo cross- country instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated at Ramona, California, on the day of the accident at 0915 as a cross-country flight to Parker and Needles, California.

In a verbal statement to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors, the student said that he became lost while on the cross-country to Needles. After flying in excess of 3 hours, he eventually found himself over the Las Vegas area. The North Las Vegas Air Traffic Control Tower was attempting to help the pilot find the airport when the engine lost power. The aircraft collided with power lines and trees in a residential area as the pilot was attempting a forced landing on a street.

The aircraft was examined by FAA inspectors who reported finding only residual fuel in the fuel tanks.

Review of the pilot's FAA Airman and Medical records files disclosed that he was issued a combined third-class medical and student pilot certificate on May 24, 1994. That certificate was subsequently denied by the medical review branch of the Aeromedical Certification Division on June 23, 1994, for medical reasons. The pilot applied for, and was issued, a third-class medical and student certificate on July 8, 1994, by a different medical examiner than the one who issued the May 24, 1994, certificate. The second medical was subsequently denied by the Aeromedical Certification Division on administrative and legal grounds.