NTSB Factual Report

On December 7, 2004, at 1637 mountain standard time, a Cessna 150J, N60469, lost engine power and impacted trees and terrain during an emergency landing near Amado, Arizona. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot was not injured, and the single passenger sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Blythe, California, at 1243, en route to Tucson, Arizona. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The wreckage was at 31 degrees 42.00 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 3.00 minutes west longitude.

The pilot/owner recently bought the airplane in California, and was ferrying it to Kingwood, Texas. The pilot reported that he departed Blythe at 1243, and intended to fly to Tucson, Arizona. The route of flight was eastbound along interstate 10 (I10) until he passed Ehrenberg, Arizona, then direct to Gila Bend Airport (E63), Gila Bend, Arizona. When the pilot arrived in the area of E63 he was disoriented and lost, and he flew past E63. The pilot was not sure of his actual route of flight, but eventually landed at Sells Airport (E78), Sells, Arizona, about 1535. At the airport the pilot obtained information about his location and was given directions to Tucson. The pilot departed E78 and flew southeast until he was in the area of Amado. He was attempting to land at the airport when the engine quit. During the off airport landing the airplane struck a mesquite tree and came to rest inverted.

The pilot stated that the airplane had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

The pilot reported to the aircraft recovery personnel that he had "run out of fuel."

The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that he did not inquire about fuel while at Sells airport, nor did he determine how much fuel was on board the airplane.

The pilot's operating handbook indicated that the airplane had 22.5 gallons of useable fuel.

The pilot reported that on December 6, 2004, he instructed Blythe airport personnel to refuel the airplane, but did not know how much fuel they put on board the airplane. The IIC contacted the manager at Blythe airport. The fueling records indicated that they refueled the accident airplane with 17.5 gallons of 100 LL on December 6, 2004.

The airplane was recovered and transported to Phoenix, Arizona. Recovery personnel reported that the fuel tanks on the airplane had not been breeched during the accident sequence. They found no fuel in the fuel tanks, or on the ground adjacent to the wreckage.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations and failure to refuel the airplane at the intermediate stop, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.