Cessna 150H accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, December 26, 2011
On December 26, 2011 at about 2:21 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N22565, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Knoxville, Tennessee (Sanders Field). 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
The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2011 · about 2:21 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Sanders Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N22565 · no longer on the register · serial 15068366
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, about 300 feet above ground level, a total engine power loss occurred. The pilot attempted to restart the engine unsuccessfully and performed a forced landing into trees. The wings and fuselage of the airplane were substantially damaged. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel tanks remained intact and were not breached and that each tank contained about 2 gallons of fuel. The airplane was equipped with two 19-gallon wing tanks with a total fuel capacity of 38 gallons, of which 35 gallons were usable. Examination of the engine revealed that no fuel was present in the fuel lines or the fuel separator. There was no evidence of preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 10,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 8, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,668 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Knoxville TN at 2:15 pm
- Destination: TN98 Knoxville TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from TYS, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.