NTSB Factual Report

On June 18, 2006, approximately 1745 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150K, N6255G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing attempt near Sanderson Field Airport, Shelton, Washington. The private pilot received minor injuries and his passenger was not injured. The airplane was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personnel, cross-country flight which had originated from Ellensburg, Washington, an undetermined time before the accident. The pilot had filed and opened a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan.

The pilot said that he had initially departed from Ephrata, Washington, with 3 hours of fuel; he said that the 145 nautical mile trip should have taken him 1.3 hours. The pilot reported that he made an interim full-stop at Ellensburg, Washington; he said that he had "very heavy winds" until west of the Cascade mountains. He reported a loss of engine power on 2 mile final at Shelton, Washington. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector disconnected the fuel line to the carburetor and drained approximately 1.25 gallons of fuel from the tanks. The manufacturer’s Owners Manual states that the airplane's fuel capacity is 26 gallons, but 3.5 gallons are unusable.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel while en route, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. Compensation for weather (head winds), and trees were factors.