Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lacassine, Louisiana 70591
Saturday, July 9, 2011 13:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to departure, the pilot estimated that the airplane contained about 9 gallons of fuel; however, he did not perform a visual inspection of the fuel quantity. About 30 minutes after departure, the airplane’s engine lost power, and the pilot executed a forced landing to a cane field. During the landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. Following the accident, about 3 gallons of fuel were recovered from the airplane’s fuel tanks. The two fuel tanks were not compromised during the accident, and both fuel caps were securely fastened. In addition, there was no smell of fuel and no noticeable fuel blight on vegetation at the accident site. The airplane’s total capacity was 26 gallons of fuel, of which 21.5 gallons were usable. The remaining 4.5 gallons were considered unusable fuel. The postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies with the airplane’s airframe or engine that would have prevented the airplane from operating normally.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, as a result of the pilot's improper fuel planning.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/9/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Lacassine
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70591
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 301420N
Event Location Longitude 0925022W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29523
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2012 1:16PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50575
NTSB Number CEN11LA472
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Serial Number 15069406
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 9 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5081
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name LIVINGSTON ARR L
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LAKE CHARLES
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70607-7656
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name LIVINGSTON ARR L
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LAKE CHARLES
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 70607-7656
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LCH
Departure City Lake Charles
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 6R1
Destination City Welsh
Destination State LA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 9 2012 9:34AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --