Cessna 150 N8896U accident near Brookfield, Missouri

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to visually check the quantity of fuel in the fuel tanks in accordance with the Preflight checklist, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent forced landing.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he departed on a cross-country flight with the fuel gauges indicating that the fuel tanks were half full, which he thought was sufficient fuel for the flight. While on final approach to the destination airport, the engine lost power, and the pilot subsequently performed an off-field forced landing. The airplane struck a wire fence and sustained substantial damage.

Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact anomalies, and no usable fuel was found in the fuel tanks. The pilot reported that he did not visually check the fuel level in the fuel tanks before the flight, which was not in accordance with the Preflight checklist in the Airplane Owner's Manual. He added that he relied on the fuel gauge indications to determine the quantity of fuel on board the airplane. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the exhaustion of usable fuel during the flight, which led to the loss of engine power.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN15LA361 for the full record.