What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2005-08-12 involved a Cessna 150M, registration N45679, at Wht Sulfur Sprg, NY.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during a precautionary landing, which resulted in collision with a wire and terrain. Factors in the accident were the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning which resulted in his becoming lost/disoriented, and a low fuel state.

Student Pilot Executes Emergency Landing in Park, Strikes Wire (N45679)

On August 12, 2005, a Cessna 150M (registration N45679) was involved in an aviation accident near Wht Sulfur Sprg, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during a precautionary landing, which resulted in collision with a wire and terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

A student pilot on a personal flight made an emergency landing in a park after circling for hours. The airplane struck a wire on short final, nosed over. No mechanical anomalies were found; fuel drained totaled 4.7 gallons, with 3.5 gallons unusable.

Background

A student pilot departed his home airport for a personal flight with an unknown quantity of fuel. He landed at another airport, shut down the engine, did not purchase any fuel, and subsequently departed for the return flight.

Event Description

Hours later, witnesses observed the airplane circling approximately 8 miles from his home airport. The airplane then maneuvered for landing in a park. On short final approach, the airplane struck a wire, descended sharply, struck the ground, and nosed over.

Witness Observations

One witness reported that the engine was running fine and steady, with a power setting estimated at mid-range. Another witness, located one-quarter mile west of the crash site, noticed the airplane circle overhead. The airplane descended and passed over his head at treetop level in a wings-level attitude. He stated that the engine was running smoothly and that he knew the airplane was coming in for an emergency landing.

Wreckage Examination

Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical anomalies. Fuel drained from the tanks totaled 4.7 gallons, of which 3.5 gallons were not usable.

Pilot Information

The pilot had been a student pilot for 11 years, with several multi-year breaks in training, and had accumulated 190 total hours of flight experience.

2005-08-12: Cessna 150M (N45679) — Wht Sulfur Sprg, NY