Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hope, Maine 04847
Friday, September 6, 1996 18:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While returning from a round trip, cross-country flight, the engine lost power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, & performed a forced landing to a grass field. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and was damaged. The HOBBS meter reading indicated the airplane had been operated for 5.4 hrs. The pilot said he departed knowing he was pushing the envelope for fuel, but he figured he had enough to get home, since the left tank fuel quantity was above 1/4 & the right tank fuel quantity showed above zero. The airplane had a supplemental type certificate for use of automotive gasoline. The pilot said he did not refuel the airplane during the trip because his flight instructor told him to use automotive gasoline only. He was told automotive gasoline was unavailable at his points of landing; however, aviation gasoline was available. The pilot was not aware of the compatibility between automotive & aviation gasoline. The airplane was examined by an FAA Inspector; according to his report, fuel was found in a line between the gascolator & carburetor. At least 1 gal of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank & 2 or 3 cups of fuel leaked out of the left fuel tank. An undetermined amount of fuel was observed pulsing out of the fuel vent tube. No preimpact failure of the engine or airframe was reported. The airplane's fuel capacity was 26 gal, of which 3.5 gal were unusable.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

inadequate preflight, by not refueling the airplane during an en route stop, which led to fuel exhaustion, loss of engine power, and a subsequent forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/6/1996
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HOPE
Event State MAINE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 04847
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 9
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1856 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID RKD
Elevation of weather observation facility 56
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2013
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 9 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:21AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6632G
NTSB Number IAD96LA144
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 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier 150L
Aircraft Serial Number 15072132
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 Jun 12 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75
Airframe Hours 4636
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RUSSELL LORD
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR. 1, BOX 360
Aircraft Owner City BROOKS
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04921
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ACE AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BELFAST AIRPORT
Operator City BELFAST
Operator State ME
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 04915
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PWM
Departure City PORTLAND
Departure State ME
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BST
Destination City BELFAST
Destination State ME
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --