Cessna 150M accident near Layton, Utah, February 14, 2015
On February 14, 2015 at about 5:20 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 150M, registered N827CH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Layton, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight fuel planning, which did not account for the increased headwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 14, 2015 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Layton, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M, built 1974 · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N827CH · no longer on the register · serial 15076202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that the airplane departed with about 8 gallons of fuel on board for a cross-country flight. While the airplane was en route and about 1,200 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot then completed the emergency procedures to restore power without success. The pilot chose to make an emergency landing on a golf course. During the landing sequence, the pilot intentionally impacted a tree with the airplane's right wing to reduce forward speed, after which the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that, due to a headwind that the airplane encountered en route, there was insufficient fuel to reach his destination airport. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would precluded normal operation. It is likely that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion because the pilot did not account for an increased headwind.
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 (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 31, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,697 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 2015; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,599 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-200 (piston); 5,696 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGU Logan UT at 4:40 pm
- Destination: BTF Woods Cross UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from OGD, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.