Cessna 150C accident near Tucson, Arizona, August 22, 2003
On August 22, 2003 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna 150C, registered N7909Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tucson, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate inflight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power due to an inadequate fuel supply.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2003 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150C · all 150Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7909Z · no longer on the register · serial 15060009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise, the airplane lost total engine power and collided with a tree during the emergency landing. The pilot departed earlier that day with full fuel. After a series of stops, the pilot was going to make an unscheduled stop to have breakfast and refuel. Suddently, the engine sputtered and then regained normal rpm. The engine instruments were indicating normal operations. Shortly thereafter, the engine completely quit and the pilot made a forced landing. During the landing sequence, the left wing collided with a tree. The pilot felt the engine stopped due fuel exhaustion.
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: 145 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 70 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O200-A Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KE63 Gila Bend CA
- Destination: KRYN Ryan AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KSAN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N7909Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.