Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Spangle, Washington 99031
Friday, February 18, 2000 14:40 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While on a long cross-country flight, the pilot noticed that the aircraft had used considerably more fuel than it should have, and that he was then low on fuel. While attempting to get to an airport for a precautionary landing, the engine lost power. The pilot lined up to land in an open field, but as he got lower, he realized it was full of large rocks and was too bumpy. He therefore tried to land on a dirt road which sat between a power line on one side and a barbed wire fence on the other. During the landing flare, the aircraft contacted the fence resulting in a yaw that brought it in contact with a series of fence posts. An investigation revealed that the aircraft's fuel storage and distribution system had leaked considerable fuel, and that the fuel quantity sensing system was very unreliable.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Exhaustion of the fuel supply due to a leaking fuel tank system. Factors contributing to the accident were, inaccurate fuel quantity sensors, the lack of suitable terrain in the area of the forced landing, and a fence alongside the dirt upon which the pilot attempted the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/18/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1440
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SPANGLE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99031
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 2
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 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
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) --
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) 754
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 18 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50348
NTSB Number SEA00LA045
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150H
Aircraft Series Identifier 150H
Aircraft Serial Number 15069245
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 Sep 24 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 7768
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GLASSEY, MARION AND BARBARA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5141 SPRINGHILL DR.
Aircraft Owner City ALBANY
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97321
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 S12
Departure City ALBANY
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1140
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code COE
Destination City COEUR D'ALENE
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2001 4:05AM
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 --