Incident Overview
On March 6, 2019, at approximately 1300 central standard time, a Cessna 150F, registration N6917F, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing near Granite Shoals/Bob Sylvester Airpark (2G5) in Granite Shoals, Texas. The pilot and one child passenger were not injured, and another child passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight Purpose and Preflight
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to reposition the aircraft to San Marcos, Texas, for an annual inspection. He recalled last refueling the airplane in October 2018 with about 8 gallons, approximately five months prior to the accident flight. Before departure, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection and sumped both wing fuel tanks. The left fuel tank was virtually empty and initially contained some sediment, which later cleared. The right fuel tank sump was clear. After engine start, the left fuel tank gauge indicated near empty, and the right fuel tank gauge indicated about one-quarter full.
Engine Loss and Forced Landing
The pilot stated that after takeoff, he initiated a right turn, and at about 600 feet above ground level, the engine sputtered and lost power. He attempted to turn back to the airport but determined that he was too low. He executed a forced landing to a field vegetated with small trees. During the landing, the left wing struck a small mesquite tree, causing the airplane to spin approximately 180 degrees, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and two child passengers (ages 6 and 4) exited the airplane. The airplane was not equipped with child safety seating.
Post-Accident Observations
After the accident, the pilot reported discovering more sediment remaining in the left fuel tank. On the NTSB Form 6120, the pilot stated that he believes the low fuel state and sediment in the left tank may have starved the engine during the first turn when gravity pulled fuel from the left tank, and that more fuel on board would probably have been helpful.