Cessna 150M accident near Lyons, Kansas, July 5, 1999
On July 5, 1999 at about 3:20 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N45078, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lyons, Kansas (Lyons Rice County airport). 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
The pilot's inadequate fuel management leading to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1999 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Lyons, Kansas · Lyons Rice County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N45078 · no longer on the register · serial 15076725
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The personal flight departed from the Johnson County Executive Airport, Olathe, Kansas at 1920 en route to the Lyons Rice County Municipal Airport (LYO), Lyons, Kansas. The engine was reported to cough and surge approximately 6 nmi from LYO. A report provided by the Kansas Highway patrol, stated, 'Pilot stated she was headed for Lyons Airport and ran out of fuel'.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 210 hours in all; 173 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,318 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 1999; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OJC Olathe KS
- Destination: LYO KS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from HUT, 22 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.
Other NTSB records under N45078 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.