Cessna 150E accident near Burbank, California, June 17, 2001
On June 17, 2001 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna 150E, registered N3937U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burbank, California. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel exhaustion while maneuvering during a banner tow flight due to an inadequate fuel supply. A factor was the pilot's improper preflight preparation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2001 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Burbank, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N3937U · no longer on the register · serial 15061337
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After waiting about 55 minutes for a fuel truck to service his airplane, the pilot noted that the airplane's fuel tank gauges registered 1/4-full, so he took off on the banner tow flight. Fuel exhaustion occurred about 26 minutes later. Unable to reach the nearest airport, the pilot made a forced landing on a hillside. A police officer examined the airplane and reported that no fuel was found in its tanks. The pilot indicated that no mechanical malfunction or failure had precipitated the loss of engine power. The pilot had about 4,000 hours of flight time, of which 1,100 hours were acquired flying the Cessna 150. He held a certified flight instructor certificate for airplanes, an instrument rating, and an airframe and engine powerplant certificate.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 30, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,362 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 2000; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Red Baron Air
The flight
- Departed from: WHP Los Angeles CA at 2:15 am
- Destination: WHP Los Angeles CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from BUR, 3 miles away
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.