Cessna 150F accident near Wishram, Washington, June 7, 2023
On June 7, 2023 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 150F, registered N7155F, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Wishram, Washington. It was an aerial observation 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 improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2023 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wishram, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F, built 1966 · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7155F · registry record · serial 15063755
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the intent for the flight was to conduct several aerial surveys of large fields. The flight departed with 37 gallons of fuel onboard intended for the 4-hour flight. A diversion was made due to scattered rain showers to wait for weather conditions to improve to the requirements for aerial photography. The engine lost total power about 9 miles from the intended destination. He realized he would be unable to land at his intended destination due to the airplane’s altitude and distance from it, so he performed an off airport forced landing in a field. The airplane touched down and rolled over inverted in a ravine sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, left wing and right aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 987 hours in all; 339 in this make and model; 153 in the last 90 days; 101 in the last 30 days; 906 as pilot in command; 499 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 25, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,935 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 E2D (piston); 6,923 hours total
- Operator: JR Imaging Logistics Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: RLD Richland WA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: DLS Dalles OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KDLS, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDLS 072153Z AUTO 32007KT 10SM FEW050 FEW090 SCT110 28/09 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP079 T02780089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 20, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.