NTSB Factual Report

On August 24, 2012, about 1030 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M airplane, N63672, impacted terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Arrow Rock, Missouri. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported that he was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial fuselage damage. The airplane was owned and operated by Dyer the Flyer Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated from the Marshall Memorial Municipal Airport (MHL), near Marshall, Missouri, about 0830.

The pilot and operator were given accident reports to complete and return. The pilot's report was not returned with a history of the accident flight. However, the returned operator's report did contain a completed history of flight section. According to the operator’s accident report, the pilot asked to rent the accident airplane for a local flight. The operator asked the pilot how long he intended to fly and the pilot responded about an hour, which he "usually" did. The pilot pre-flighted the airplane and the pilot and operator both checked the fuel quantity. Both fuel tanks were "a little" over half full. The pilot performed three takeoffs and landings at MHL and departed to Jesse Viertel Memorial Airport (VER), near Boonville, Missouri. On his return flight to MHL, the pilot conducted a forced landing on a pasture. The operator indicated that during his approach, the pilot stalled the airplane about 15 feet in the air and the airplane fuselage was torn open behind the rear window. The airplane traveled through a ravine where the nose landing gear separated. The Hobbs meter showed two hours of time elapsed.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed the operator. The operator indicated to the inspector that the pilot stated he bought fuel at VER. The inspector contacted personnel at VER and they did not have any record of a fuel purchase by the accident airplane. The personnel remembered that the airplane made a touch and go. However, the airplane never stopped there.

The FAA inspector examined the wreckage on scene. The aircraft was sitting slightly nose low and left wing slightly low. The inspector checked fuel quantity using a universal glass fuel quantity level tester. He found approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch of fuel at the leading edge of the left tank and no fuel in the right tank. The fuel strainer located at the bottom of the firewall was not damaged. The nose of the aircraft was lifted and the strainer drain cable was pulled. Approximately two tablespoons of fuel came out of the strainer line.

At 1053, the recorded weather at the Sedalia Regional Airport, near Sedalia, Missouri, was: Wind 200 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 18 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 32 degrees C; dew point 12 degrees C; altimeter 30.04 inches of mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate fuel management and in-flight decision making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.