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Accidents · NTSB CEN21LA231 · Final report

Cessna 150J accident near Madison, Arkansas, April 28, 2021

On April 28, 2021 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 150J, registered N5578G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Madison, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot’s improper fuel planning which led to fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
April 28, 2021 · about 5:30 pm local time
Place
Madison, Arkansas · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 150J, built 1969 · all 150Js on the register
Registration
N5578G · registry record · serial 15071078
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot reported that, while the airplane was in cruise flight, the engine power reduced to idle. The pilot noted that the engine was still running but that he was unable to increase power above idle. He stated that the engine acted as if the throttle control was disconnected. The pilot made a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane’s nose landing gear sunk in the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed no usable fuel remaining in the wing fuel tanks, no fuel in the gascolator, and no evidence of a fuel spill at the accident site. The throttle control connection was checked; although the carburetor had broken loose from its mount due to impact, evidence indicated that the throttle control was functioning. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive for carburetor icing at glide power. However, a power loss during cruise flight and power that rapidly reduces to idle are not consistent with a loss of power due to carburetor icing. Given the available evidence for this investigation, the pilot failed to adequately plan the fuel for the flight which resulted in the airplane’s fuel supply to be exhausted, resulting in a total loss of engine power.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Loss of engine power (total) during enroute
  2. Fuel exhaustion during enroute defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
  • Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: student
  • Flight time: 82 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: FCY Forrest City AR at 5:00 pm
  • Flight plan: none

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 2,600 ft
  • Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
  • Observation at 12:35 pm from KUTA, 26 miles away

Weather report (METAR): METAR KUTA 281735Z AUTO 19012KT 10SM SCT026 SCT034 25/20 A2999 RMK AO2 TSNO=

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

5 documents, released by the NTSB on November 4, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.