| Crash location | 33.720000°N, 93.658889°W |
| Nearest city | Hope, AR
33.667062°N, 93.591566°W 5.3 miles away |
| Tail number | N493RA |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 15 Mar 2003 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 150G |
| Additional details: | None |
On March 15, 2003, approximately 1330 central standard time, a Cessna 150G single-engine airplane, N493RA, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Hope, Arkansas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed Mount Ida, Arkansas, approximately 1300, with Hope, Arkansas (M18), as its intended destination.
On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the 11,051-hour pilot stated that the 211-nautical mile cross country flight originated from the Downtown Airport (3DW), near Springfield, Missouri, at approximately 1030 that morning. He stated that he departed with a full load of fuel, which should have provided him with a fuel range of 3 hours and 40 minutes.
The pilot added that approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes into the flight, he elected to make an intermediate stop at the Bearce Airport (7M3), near Mount Ida, Arkansas, located 162-nautical miles from his point of departure. The Bearce Airport was unattended so he did not add any fuel at that time. The pilot further stated that he departed 7M3 at approximately 1255, for the Hope Municipal Airport (M18), near Hope, Arkansas.
At about 1325, while the airplane was 3 miles north of the landing threshold for the Hope Airport, the engine began to run tough, followed by a complete "stoppage." The pilot executed a forced landing to a pasture. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear collapsed and the left wing tip was bent.
According to the FAA Inspector, who responded to the accident site, the 1967-model airplane came to rest about 2 miles from the airport. He confirmed that the nose landing gear was collapsed and the engine firewall was damaged.
Based on the data provided by the pilot, the airplane traveled for 209 nautical miles in 2 hours and 35 minutes, and 55 minutes of fuel should have been present in the fuel system. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.