Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marysville, Washington 98270
Friday, January 7, 2000 6:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft was stolen from the airport early in the morning while it was still dark. While climbing out after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and the 'pilot' attempted to land on the south-bound lanes of Interstate Highway 5. While descending toward the highway, the aircraft collided with a set of four power lines that crossed the road about 40 feet above the highway surface. After impacting the power lines, the aircraft descended nose-first into the asphalt surface. The power lines were not illuminated, and at the time of the accident, a light drizzle was falling. The individual 'piloting' the aircraft had been issued a student pilot certificate about 16 years prior to the accident, but since the expiration of that certificate (two years later), no new certificate had been reissued. At the time of the accident, the right wing tank was empty and the left tank held approximately one gallon of fuel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Fuel exhaustion due to the non-certificated 'pilot's' failure to determine the fuel quantity prior to takeoff. Factors include a dark night, and a non-iluminated electrical transmission wire strung across the highway upon which the pilot was attempting to make a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/7/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 630
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City MARYSVILLE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98270
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 1
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 629 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID KAW
Elevation of weather observation facility 137
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 750
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 7 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
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 N3721J
NTSB Number SEA00FA037
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 150G
Aircraft Series Identifier 150G
Aircraft Serial Number 15065021
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 May 1 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 3044
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSEPH B. HEINECK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 930 SUNNYSIDE BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City EVERETT
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98205
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 AWO
Departure City ARLINGTON
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 625
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City UNKNOWN
Destination State
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 --