Cessna 150B accident near Show Low, Arizona, September 27, 1992
On September 27, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150B, registered N1104Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Show Low, 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
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Show Low, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150B · all 150Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1104Y · no longer on the register · serial 15059504
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD JUST PICKED UP THE NEWLY PURCHASED AIRCRAFT AFTER COMPLETION OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE PILOT SAID HE LOOKED INSIDE THE FUEL TANKS AND THOUGHT THEY WERE ABOUT HALF FULL. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT USE A DIP STICK OR OTHER MEASURING DEVICE TO QUANTIFY THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT FOR A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT AND THE ENGINE QUIT ABOUT 45 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT. VEHICLE TRAFFIC PRECLUDED THE PILOT LANDING ON A HIGHWAY AND HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A CONFINED FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH JUNIPER TREES SHORT OF THE FIELD. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED FINDING NO FUEL IN THE LINES FORWARD OF THE FIREWALL. THE CARBURETOR BOWL CONTAINED ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL. THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED AND FOUND TO CONTAIN ONLY 2.5 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE.
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: 81 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 26, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.