# NTSB ANC07LA058: Cessna 150, N66655, Fairbanks, AK, June 28, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2007, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.823608, -147.905548 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8236&lon=-147.9055&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 66109 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66109/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA058 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to a stuck engine exhaust valve during takeoff initial climb. A contributing factor was the airplane's excessive gross weight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - binding(mechanical) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot/owner, along with a flight instructor, departed on the initial portion of a CFR Part 91 flight review. The airplane engine began to lose power about 50 feet agl, and would not maintain altitude. A forced landing area was selected on a road, but the airplane struck several trees before colliding with the ground. An FAA inspector reported that an examination of the engine disclosed that the number 1 cylinder had no compression because the exhaust valve was stuck in the open position, resulting in a substantial loss of engine power. Additionally, the inspector found that the airplane was about 70 pounds over its maximum gross weight, reducing its climb performance. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2007, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 150 airplane, N66655, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees following a loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb from the Chena Marina Airport, about 3 miles southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight review under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot/owner and the certificated flight instructor, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 28, the owner reported that he was seated in the left seat, and the flight instructor was in the right seat, and the accident takeoff was the initial flight portion of the flight review. The owner said that about 50 feet agl, the engine began to lose power, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. He relinquished the flight controls to the flight instructor, who then selected a forced landing area on a road. The airplane struck several trees before colliding with the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Fairbanks, responded to the scene, conducted an examination of the airplane, and interviewed the two pilots. On June 29, the inspector reported that the airplane owner was utilizing auto fuel, and departed with about 27 gallons of fuel. His calculation of the airplane's gross weight at the time of the accident indicated the airplane was about 70 pounds over its maximum limit of 1,600 pounds. The flight instructor submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1). In the section of the report titled: "How could this accident have been prevented," the instructor wrote, "No excuse for weight/balance." On July 12, the inspector examined the engine at a maintenance facility, and found that the number one cylinder had no compression. The number one cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the open position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N66655](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66655-2009-01-15), registration cancelled 2009-01-15, S/N 15076187, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15076187 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert C. Miller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2007, 1 hours before - Departed: AK28, Fairbanks, AK - Airport: AK28, Chena Marina ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 68; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 5,481 total, 300 in this make and model, 5,340 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 778 total, 400 in this make and model, 656 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PAFA, 3 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070628012119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070628012119A), Jun 28, 2007: Cessna 150M, Fairbanks, AK, Destroyed. (-23) [privacy data omitted] was taking his check ride from [privacy data omitted]. [privacy data omitted] Was not current, therefore [privacy data omitted]… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.