Yelm Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Graham, Washington 98338
Monday, March 12, 1990 15:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE EN ROUTE THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A RESTART WITHOUT SUCCESS. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN BUT THEN BALLOONED AND TOUCHED DOWN A SECOND TIME ON ALL THREE LANDING GEAR. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SLID TO A STOP. DURING A POST-CRASH EXAMINATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED ONLY UNUSEABLE FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION AFTER BOUNCING/BALLOONING DURING THE FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION WAS A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/1990
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City GRAHAM
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98338
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport YELM
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 49WA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 450
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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) 521
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 12 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41069
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5559G
NTSB Number SEA90LA051
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 15071059
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WELCH, SANDRA L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 181
Aircraft Owner City RAINIER
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98576
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FHR
Departure City FRIDAY HARBOR
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City YELM
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 36
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --