# Accident 19980602029809A: Cessna 150, Mentone, TX, June 2, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 2, 1998, 12:50 local time
- Place: Mentone, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.7101° N, 103.6008° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7101&lon=-103.6008&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6486T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6486T-2013-04-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150 (registry code 2071802, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Reported engine: LYC O320E3D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 107 total, 107 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA204) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980602029809A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON JUNE 2, 1998, AT 1250 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 150 AIRPLANE, N6486T, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR MENTONE, TEXAS. THE STUDENT PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRPLANE, WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE STUDENT PILOT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT FOR WHICH A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE LUKINS FLYING SERVICE AIRSTRIP NEAR PECOS, TEXAS, AT APPROXIMATELY 1230. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED TO THE FAA INSPECTOR THAT THE ITINERARY FOR HIS SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT INCLUDED STIPS AT MENTONE AND WINK, AND A RETURN FLIGHT TO PECOS. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO SOMEWHERE AROUND 1200 TO 1500 RPM. AFTER COMPLETING HIS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE SERVICE ROAD TO AN OPERATING OIL PUMP, LOCATED APPROXIMATELLY 2 MILES AWAY. DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE NARROW DOMED ROAD, WITH THE FLAPS FULLY EXTENDED, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT ADDED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE DUG INTO THE SAND. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED REARWARD AFTER STRIKING A LARGE ROCK. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA INSPECTOR CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT WING, THE FUSELAGE, AND THE LANDING GEAR ATTACHING POINT FOR THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR, SUSTIANED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. THE REASON FOR THE REPORTED ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED; HOWEVER, THE PILOT SUSPECTED VAPOR LOCK. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE STARTED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE RECORDS PROVIDED BY THE FAA INSPECTOR, THE 1960 MODEL AIRPLANE HAD BEEN MODIFIED ON JUNE 15, 1996, WHEN A 150 HORSEPOWER LYCOMING 0-320-E3D ENGINE WAS INSTALLED TO REPLACE THE STOCK 100 HORSEPOWER CONTINENTAL ENGINE. THE MODIFICATION, PERFORMED UNDER STC SA4795SW, ALSO FEATURED A LARGER PROPELLER AND THE ADDITION OF AN STOL KIT. ACCORDING TO FAA MEDICAL RECORD, THE STUDENT PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 85 HOURS AT THE TIME OF HIS LAST MEDICAL EXAMINAITON ON FEBRUARAY 11, 1997. HIS TOTAL TIME AT THE ACCIDENT WAS 107 HOURS.                                                                                                               (-23) THIS STUDENT PILOT LOST CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT ON ROLL OUT FOLLOWING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HE SAID THE ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING SO HE DECIDED TO LAND ON THE OIL FIELD SERVICE ROAD.  POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FAILED TO IDENTIFY ANY ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE PILOT SUSPECTED VAPOR LOCKING.  THE TEMPERATURE WAS 110 DEGREES F. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT RECEIVED NO INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA204), Jun 2, 1998: Cessna 150 (N6486T), Mentone, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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