ANC01LA074

The student pilot had departed a local private airstrip and was seen flying in the local area. A witness in the area related that the airplane seemed to lose engine power, and turn towards the private airstrip he had departed. The airplane collided with trees prior to reaching the airstrip. Postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed no evidence of any mechanical anomalies. Both fuel tanks were intact, and contained a less than useable quantity of fuel.

On June 26, 2001, about 0915 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 150D airplane, N73CC, received substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near Soldotna, Alaska. The solo student pilot received serious injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane departed a nearby private airstrip about 0900.

According to witnesses, the airplane was flying in the vicinity of the departure airstrip when the engine appeared to lose power. The airplane then descended rapidly and collided with trees and the ground.

Two FAA Flight Standards Inspectors went to the crash site about two hours after the accident. They reported that the engine did not appear to be developing power upon impact, and that the fuel tanks were intact, but contained a less than usable quantity of fuel. No mechanical anomalies were observed by the inspector's at the crash site.

The pilot was hospitalized with serious injuries, and was not available to be interviewed. The pilot was sent an NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report form, but it was not completed. The pilot's brother wrote a letter of explanation, indicating his brother was severely injured, and was unable to complete the accident form.