20240715008839A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 150M · Ritzville, WA · July 15, 2024

Date: July 15, 2024 · 11:45 local
Place: Ritzville, WA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N714PW
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR24LA248
Reported as: Cessna 150M
Reported engine: Continental 0-200 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot, student
Pilot’s flight hours: 407 total

N714PWRegistration cancelled Dec 20, 2025 · Cessna 150MS/N 15079336 · Built 1977 Airframe modelCessna 150M Engine modelContinental 0-200 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

45 Minutes into the flight while crusing at altitude 6,500FT AGL, pilot heard a loud metal sound coming from the engine compartment followed by an immediate decrease in engine RPM and additional rattling and shaking. Unable to make the closest airport, landed aircraft in a dry farmer's field south of the airport.

As the FAA filed it

45 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT WHILE CRUSING AT ALTITUDE 6,500FT AGL, PILOT HEARD A LOUD METAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOLLOWED BY AN IMMEDIATE DECREASE IN ENGINE RPM AND ADDITIONAL RATTLING AND SHAKING. UNABLE TO MAKE THE CLOSEST AIRPORT, LANDED AIRCRAFT IN A DRY FARMER'S FIELD SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR24LA248Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportRitzville, WAMaintenance personnel’s improper installation of the No. 2 cylinder exhaust valve, which allowed the valve to drop into the cylinder and resulted in a total loss of engine power.Jul 15, 2024 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N714PW · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19821118059159ATouch And Go Landing · Middletown, OHStudent on second solo lost control on power application during a touch and go. Ran off runway. Nosed over in mud.Nov 18, 1982 · Substantial damage