Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
NTSB analysis
The private pilot was on approach to land the airplane when the engine lost power and the airplane landed short of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the engine mount.
After the accident, a mechanic drained 2 gallons of fuel from the fuel tanks, which would not have been usable in flight. The pilot estimated there had been 7 gallons of fuel in the fuel tanks before the half-hour flight, and there is no evidence that the airplane had been fueled before the accident flight. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Given the length of flight and the average fuel burn, the pilot didn’t ensure sufficient fuel was onboard before departure.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20LA092 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 15, 2020
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Wadsworth, Ohio
- Nearest airport
- Wadsworth Muni (3G3)
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 150
- N-number
- N714ER
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1976
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.