Cessna 150M accident near Orem, Utah, April 2, 2004
On April 2, 2004 at about 10:00 am local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N66758, was substantially damaged in an accident near Orem, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. Contributing factors include the dark night light conditions, and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2004 · about 10:00 am local time
- Place
- Orem, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66758 · registry record · serial 15076255
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot said that he "ran out of fuel." The pilot attempted a forced landing to an open field near the east shore of the lake. During the forced landing, the airplane's right wing struck several branches on the top of a 50-foot tree and the airplane subsequently struck the ground in a nose-down attitude. An examination of the airplane showed that both wing fuel tanks were intact. Approximately 2 cups of fuel was recovered from the tanks.
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: 216 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 24, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,961.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 2004; 13.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S78 Emmett ID at 7:10 am
- Destination: PVU Provo UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 75 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 am from KPVU, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N66758 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.