Cessna 150 accident near Dunnellon, Florida, February 20, 2024
On February 20, 2024 at about 5:38 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 150, registered N8158F, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Dunnellon, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2024 · about 5:38 pm local time
- Place
- Dunnellon, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 F, built 1966 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N8158F · no longer on the register · serial 15064258
- 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, approximately 8 miles from the destination airport, and while flying at 2,000 ft mean sea level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. The pilot subsequently conducted a forced landing to a blueberry field impacting several sprinkler heads, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot stated that during his preflight inspection, a calibrated fuel dipping stick for the accident airplane make and model was not available, so the pilot “took a look down” into the fuel tanks and was relying on the instrument panel-mounted fuel gauges to determine the quantity of fuel in the airplane. The gauges read about ½ full for both tanks and the pilot felt confident that was sufficient for the planned 23-minute flight. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the accident. The inspector observed that both fuel tanks were intact and that only a minimal amount of fuel remained in each. The inspector also noted that the fuel gauges in the instrument panel read “at E on the left tank and just above E on the right tank.” Based on this information, it is most likely that the pilot inaccurately determined the amount of fuel available for the flight prior to departure, which subsequently resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of equipment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 171.6 hours in all; 21.1 in this make and model; 65.7 in the last 90 days; 40.6 in the last 30 days; 116.4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKV Brooksville FL at 5:15 pm
- Destination: X35 Dunnellon FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from CGC, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCGC 221755Z AUTO 21003KT 10SM CLR 22/M01 A3011 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane in the Blueberry Field with PVC Piping
Photograph 2 – Leading Edge Damage to Left Wing
Photograph 3 – Damage to Right Wing
Photograph 4 – Fuel GaugesThe 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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 3, 2024. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Additional FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 5 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.