Draughon-Miller Central Texas Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Temple, Texas 76501
Monday, May 19, 2003 21:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the turn from base to final, the solo student pilot reduced the throttle to 1,500 rpm. According to the student pilot, the airplane was farther away from the runway than anticipated, so he increased the throttle; however, the engine lost rpm. The student pilot performed the emergency procedure but engine power was not restored. During the night forced landing, the airplane collided with trees short of the runway. The integrity of the fuel system was compromised. The fuel tanks were reported full (26.5 gallons, 22 gallons usable) when the airplane departed for the round robin flight. En route refueling was planned, and the pilot added 9.3 gallons at the first refueling point; however, fueling personnel were not on duty at the airport for the second planned refueling. The student measured his fuel using a fuel measuring stick, and calculated his remaining fuel to be 10 gallons (approximately 9 gallons usable). The student telephoned his instructor, and both agreed on an alternate airport for refueling. The total flight time was 4.6 hours. Based on the available flight plan data, the aircraft manufacturer's representative calculated a total fuel consumption of 21.6 gallons for the planned round robin flight. The carburetor icing probability chart indicates that carburetor icing was possible at glide and cruise power with the ambient temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit and a dew point of 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Contributing factors were the night conditions and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/19/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Temple
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76501
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 310915N
Event Location Longitude 0972447W
Event Location Airport Draughon-Miller Central Texas
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TPL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 682
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2115 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID TPL
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14270
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date May 20 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio , Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6520G
NTSB Number FTW03LA157
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15072020
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 Aug 16 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7350.1
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ronald P. MCKinley, dba
Aircraft Owner Street Address 112 N Grayson St
Aircraft Owner City Groesbeck
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76642
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BMQ
Departure City Burnet
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2027
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TPL
Destination City Temple
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Aug 19 2003 9:07AM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 6301
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --