Cessna 150L accident near Waubay, South Dakota, January 23, 1994
On January 23, 1994 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N10449, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waubay, South Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot-in-command's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident is the false indications on the fuel gauges.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1994 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Waubay, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N10449 · no longer on the register · serial 15074863
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH ABOUT 13 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE. AFTER 1.8 HOURS OF FLIGHT (PER HOBBS METER RECORDS) THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER, THEN QUIT. RESTART ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A SNOW COVERED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN IN DEEP SNOW DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT REPORTED THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES READ 1/2 AND 1/4 FULL (RIGHT AND LEFT, RESPECTIVELY) WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT ATTENTIVE ENOUGH TO THE FLIGHT TIME/FUEL STATUS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES A FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE OF ABOUT 5.8 GALLONS PER HOUR AT 75% 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 188 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,680 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 1993; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Miller Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BKX Brookings SD at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
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.