ATL04LA009

Factual narrative

On October 6, 2003, at 1950 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N4662X, registered to and operated by the private pilot collided with trees following a loss of engine power while on approach to Jeykll Island airport in Jeykll Island, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Mc Kinnon Airport, Brunswick, Georgia on October 6, 2003 at 1930. According to the pilot, about 10 minutes after takeoff he noticed a "power drop" and a noise on the pilot side which sounded like exhaust, as if he had blown a cylinder or lost compression. He said that at first he could not go above 1200 feet mean sea level (MSL). He stated that his oil temperature, oil pressure, and fuel gauges were all normal, and that he had about 3/4 fuel. He then stated that he could no longer maintain altitude and turned southwest toward Jekyll Island airport. He said his altitude dropped to 800 feet msl and his tachometer was reading 2500 rpm. At this point he was looking for an alternate landing site. He ruled out a highway due to traffic and elected to attempt a forced landing into a swamp. On the approach he pulled the nose of the airplane "way up" and with the tail down and collided with trees and subsequently the ground. Examination of the airplane found leading edge damage to both wings and twisting of the fuselage. Examination of the engine found no evidence of fuel in the fuel lines, fuel gascolator or in the carburetor. During a telephone conversation with the pilot he was asked about the amount of fuel he had onboard his airplane at the time of the accident. On his Pilot/Operator Report he stated that he departed with 21-gallons of fuel on board. However, during the post-accident examination there was no fuel found in the fuel tanks. The pilot stated that he did not recall if he had checked the fuel tanks prior to takeoff. He also said that at the accident site there was no fuel spill according to the local authorities on-scene. According to the pilot, about 10 minutes after takeoff he noticed a "power drop" and a noise on the pilot side which sounded like exhaust, as if he had blown a cylinder or lost compression. He said that at first he could not go above 1200 feet mean sea level (MSL). When the pilot was not able to maintain altitude, the pilot elected to make a forced landing into a swamp. On the approach for the landing the pilot pulled the nose of the airplane up and airplane collided with trees. Examination of the airplane found leading edge damage to both wings and twisting of the fuselage. Examination of the engine, found no evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks, fuel lines, fuel gascolator or in the carburetor. On May 3, 2005 at 1500 eastern daylight time, the pilot was asked about the amount of fuel he had onboard his airplane at the time of the accident. On his Pilot/Operator Report he stated that he departed with 21-gallons of fuel on board. However, at the time of the accident there was no fuel found in the fuel tanks. The pilot stated that he did not recall if he had checked the fuel tanks prior to takeoff. He also said that at the accident site there was no fuel spill according to the local authorities on-scene. He stated that if there was no fuel on the airplane then he could not argue with the findings. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12