Cessna 150M accident near Franklin, Pennsylvania, January 15, 2024
On January 15, 2024 at about 7:48 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N7682U, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Franklin, Pennsylvania (Venango Rgnl airport). It was an instructional 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 pilots’ inadequate preflight fuel planning and in-flight fuel management, 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
- January 15, 2024 · about 7:48 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Pennsylvania · Venango Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N7682U · registry record · serial 15077808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the first leg of a cross-country flight, the pilot observed that the fuel level indication was lower than expected. She elected to divert to a nearby airport where she topped off the airplane with 13 gallons of fuel, for a total fuel load of 22.5 usable gallons. About 3 ½ hours into the next leg of the flight, the pilot elected to divert to a closer airport to fuel the airplane again. As the pilot entered the airport traffic pattern, she overshot the final approach course and continued to circle for another attempt. During the maneuver, the engine lost all power and she was unable to troubleshoot due to the low altitude. The pilot then attempted to land on a taxiway, but during the landing flare the airplane struck a berm, collapsing the gear and substantially damaging the airframe before coming to rest. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that only the unusable quantity of fuel remained in the fuel tanks and no fuel was discovered in the gascolator. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident fuel consumption calculations for the takeoff and cruise portions of the accident flight also confirmed that available fuel quantity would have been exhausted at the time of the accident.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Landing area overshoot during landing
- Fuel exhaustion during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 110.3 hours in all; 110.3 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 2023
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 6,020 hours total
- Operator: Tech Flight CORP
The flight
- Departed from: ALB Albany NY at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 3,593 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from FKL
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFKL 151956Z AUTO 24008KT 10SM CLR M09/M18 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP221 T10891178 FZRANO=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Front view of wreckage.
Photograph 2 – Left side profile view of wreckage.
Photograph 3 – Left side of fuselage damage. Note, snow occurred post-accident.
Photograph 4 – Right profile view of airplane damage. Note, snow occurred post-accident.
Photograph 5 – Instrument panel.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memo for Record_pilot Interview | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memo for Record_faa Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Operator Report to FAA and NTSB | PDF, 16 pages | View Download |
| 4 | POH Excerpt Fuel and Endurance | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | ADS-B Tabular Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 6 | ADS-B Flight Track Overview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Weather Conditions_winds | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Photo Array_accident Site and Damage | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.