Cessna 150F accident near East Tawas, Michigan, August 6, 1994
On August 6, 1994 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N7760F, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Tawas, Michigan (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate prelight planning/preparation by the pilot and the subsequent inadequate fuel supply.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1994 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- East Tawas, Michigan · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7760F · no longer on the register · serial 15063860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE LOST ALL ENGINE POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE SOLO PRIVATE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON AN ADJACENT FARM FIELD. THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE TO A LOCAL AIRPORT TO HAVE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION PERFORMED ON HIS AIRPLANE. THE PILOT REPORTED HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF WITH 1/8 OF A TANK OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN EACH WING TANK. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH TWO 26 GALLON FUEL TANKS, EACH WITH AN UNUSABLE FUEL AMOUNT OF 3.5 GALLONS.
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: 1,276 hours in all; 1,166 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1990; 1,788 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.