Cessna 150 accident near Centralia, Illinois, August 26, 1994
On August 26, 1994 at about 3:15 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N6307S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Centralia, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilots improper fuel calculation and improper use of fuel mixture.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1994 · about 3:15 am local time
- Place
- Centralia, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N6307S · no longer on the register · serial 15067107
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED ON A NIGHT VFR FLIGHT WITH FULL FUEL TANKS (22.5 GALLONS USABLE). THE PILOT CLIMBED TO 6500 FEET MSL, AND SET 2350 RPM. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3.3 HOURS, IN A DESCENT TO THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A HOUSE DURING THE FORCED LANDING. POST CRASH INSPECTION REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL ON BOARD, AND NO EVIDENCE OF AN IN FLIGHT LEAK. THE PILOT STATED HE BELIEVED HE IMPROPERLY LEANED THE MIXTURE, RESULTING IN A HIGHER THAN FORECAST FUEL CONSUMPTION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 870 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 290 in the last 90 days; 103 in the last 30 days; 765 as pilot in command; 290 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1994; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K22 Prestonsburg KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:34 am from MVN, 15 miles away
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.