| Crash location | 33.438055°N, 99.812778°W |
| Nearest city | Knox City, TX
33.418151°N, 99.818980°W 1.4 miles away |
| Tail number | N8158S |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 07 Sep 2003 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 150F |
| Additional details: | None |
On September 07, 2003, approximately 2045 central daylight time, a Cessna 150F single-engine airplane, N8158S, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Knox City, Texas. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to, and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 cross-country flight. The flight departed Muleshoe Municipal Airport (2T1), Muleshoe, Texas, approximately 1815, and was destined for the Harrison Field of Knox City Airport (F75), near Knox City, Texas.
The 75-hour student pilot reported that he departed F75 on September 6, 2003, for a planned flight to 2T1, with a return flight to F75 the following day. The student pilot stated that prior to the departure from F75, the airplane was full of fuel. The following evening, the pilot called the Flight Service Station at about 1800 local before taking off. The student pilot did not refuel the airplane prior to departure from 2T1. Enroute he deviated from his intended course because of thunderstorms and encountered a head wind. Approximately 25 miles from Knox City Airport, he started a slow decent to approximately 3,500 feet mean sea level. When approximately 10 miles from the airport, the engine "abruptly" stopped, and pilot tried to adjust the airspeed to obtain the best glide speed. He then realized that he was not going to be able to make the airport. The student pilot touched down, bounced twice, and rolled approximately 300 feet before coming to a stop.
At 2052, the weather at Wichita Falls Municipal Airport (SPS), near Wichita Falls, Texas, 74 nautical miles from the accident site, was reported as winds from 110 degrees at 9 knots, temperature 72 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.96 inches Hg. The visibility was 10 statute miles and the sky was clear.
An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that there was no evidence of fuel found at the accident site. The inspector stated that the cowling was dented and the left wing aft spar was buckled. He added that the nose wheel sunk in the soft ground and was bent to the right. The engine mounts and firewall were also damaged.
The student pilot's inadequate flight planning/decision, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. Contributing factors were the student pilot's failure to refuel the airplane and lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.