Cessna 150M accident near Carrolton, Texas, November 19, 1999
On November 19, 1999, a Cessna 150M, registered N63077, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrolton, Texas (Addison airport). It was a business 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 failure to refuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 1999
- Place
- Carrolton, Texas · Addison · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N63077 · no longer on the register · serial 15077085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After 3.4 hours of flight, at 2,000 feet, approximately 1.5 miles from the approach end of the runway, the Cessna 150's engine 'sputtered and quit.' The pilot's attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. During the ensuing night forced landing to a field, the airplane's right wing struck a tree. The pilot reported that he had estimated the 246 nautical mile flight would take 3 hours, and use 16.5 gallons of fuel. The pilot further reported that the fuel on board at takeoff was 22.5 gallons. Examination by an FAA inspector revealed that 'both fuel tanks had less than two gallons of fuel on board.' According to the Pilot Operator Handbook, the total fuel capacity was 26 gallons, with a total capacity of 13 gallons for each tank. The total usable fuel was 22.5 gallons.
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: 407 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 407 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,407 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 8, 1999; 37 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: WWR Woodward OK at 9:25 pm
- Destination: ADS Addison TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 7,202 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.