Cessna 150L accident near Siloam Springs, Arkansas, September 28, 2003
On September 28, 2003 at about 3:00 am local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N21915, was substantially damaged in an accident near Siloam Springs, Arkansas (Smith Field). 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
A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadequate planning/decision resulting in fuel exhaustion. Factors were the trees and the night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2003 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Siloam Springs, Arkansas · Smith Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N21915 · no longer on the register · serial 15074532
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain following an in-flight loss of engine power during an approach to land. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An examination of the airplane revealed that the "engine stopped producing power as a result of fuel starvation." The airplane's owner stated that the pilot departed Fayetteville en route to Siloam Springs knowing he "had no more than 35 minutes fuel at night." The owner reported no mechanical malfunctions associated with the airplane on the flight. During an interview with the FAA, the pilot stated, "I ran out of gas."
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A-48 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Plane Krazy Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: FYV Fayetteville AR
- Destination: SLG Siloam Springs AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from SLG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N21915 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.