# Accident 19980721016819A: Cessna 150M, Litchfield, IL, July 21, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 1998, 15:00 local time
- Place: Litchfield, IL
- Airport: Litchfield Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach-IFR
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1702° N, 89.6499° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1702&lon=-89.6499&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9251U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9251U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150M (registry code 2071830, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA267) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980721016819A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 21, 1998, AT 1500 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 150M, N9251U, OPERATED BY A STUDENT PILOT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON IMPACT WITH A POLE DURING LANDING ON RUNWAY 09 (3901' X 75', ASPHALT) AT LITCHFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, NEAR LITCHFIELD, ILLINOIS, FOLLOWING A FORCED LANDING FROM ENGINE POWER LOSS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL 14 CFR PART 91 STUDENT SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WAS OPERATING ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED GREATER PEORIA REGIONAL AIRPORT, NEAR PEORIA, ILLINOIS, AT 1345 AND WAS ENROUTE TO ALTON, ILLINOIS. (-23) THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SOLO VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM PEORIA, IL TO ALTON, IL.  APPROXIMATELY 25 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHWEST OF LITCHFIELD, IL THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOST POWER.  THE AIRMAN DECLARED AN EMERGENY AND RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS TO LITCHFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT FROM THE ST. LOUIS, MO RADAR APPROACH CONTROL FACILITY. THE AIRMAN ELECTED TO MAKE A STRAIGHT IN, DOWNWIND LANDING TO RUNWAY 09 AT LITCHFIELD.  DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, THE STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL O                                  F THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD.  THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A CONCRETE RUNWAY MARKER BEFORE COMING TO REST APPROXIMATELY 1500 FEET FROM THE TOUCH DOWN POINT.  THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE THE STUDENT PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS UNINJURED.

## 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 CHI98LA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA267), Jul 21, 1998: Cessna 150M (N9251U), Litchfield, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power due to an open exhaust valve and low cylinder compression. A related factor was the tailwind.

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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