Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Del Rio, Texas 78840
Saturday, May 14, 1994 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE FLIGHT ORIGINALLY DEPARTED WITH 26 GALLONS OF FUEL. BASED ON HIS FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, THE PILOT ADDED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL DURING AN EN ROUTE STOP. TOTAL FUEL OF 31 GALLONS MINUS THE UNUSABLE FUEL OF 3.5 GALLONS WOULD LEAVE 27.5 GALLONS USABLE FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. THE TOTAL TIME ON THE HOBBS METER WAS 4.8 HOURS. THIS INCLUDED 3 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. FAA CALCULATIONS INDICATED THE PILOT NEEDED 28.8 GALLONS OF FUEL TO MAKE THE TRIP. THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER, WHO HAD 1.7 HOURS OF TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE, ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE BECAUSE THE ONLY SUITABLE TERRAIN APPARENT TO THE PILOTS WAS BEHIND AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE. THEY DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES AND A FENCE DURING THE FORCED LANDING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS DUE TO THE PILOT'S INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/14/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City DEL RIO
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78840
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 155
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 14 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1916
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:13AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N51150
NTSB Number FTW94LA161
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150J
Aircraft Series Identifier 150J
Aircraft Serial Number 15069798
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 26 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 3566
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MCIRVIN, JAMES R.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 211 FAR HILLS DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City DEL RIO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78840
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MCIRVIN AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 422173
Operator City DEL RIO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 78842
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code E38
Departure City ALPINE
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --