# NTSB ANC20CA016: Cessna 150, N19524, Big Lake, AK, January 30, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 29, 2020, 17:00 local (Jan 30, 2020, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Big Lake, AK - Coordinates: 61.534168, -149.827774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5342&lon=-149.8278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 100890 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100890/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100890 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA016 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to apply full carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, a forced landing, and impact with a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while performing a straight-in visual approach, he applied partial carburetor heat, and retarded the throttle for the descent. The airplane became low on the approach profile and the pilot increased the throttle and the engine subsequently "coughed" and then lost all power. He attempted to make a forced landing on a road, but the left wing struck a tree branch and the airplane subsequently impacted a snowbank and then the road. The wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He confirmed that the fuel tanks had sufficient fuel for the flight. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented had he applied full carburetor heat. The exact probability of carburetor icing was not able to be calculated for the accident site due to the closest weather observation station being 9 miles away. The relative humidity level at that weather station was 87% at an ambient temperature of 12°F at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19524](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19524), registered now, S/N 15074469, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15074469 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 2798.3 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 27, 2019 - Departed: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: PAGQ, Big Lake, AK - Airport: BGQ, Big Lake, runway 07, 2,450 × 70 ft, gravel - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 9, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 517.2 total, 187.6 in this make and model, 404.6 as pilot in command, 48.2 in the last 90 days, 17.7 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 12 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 29.03 inHg - Observed at: PAWS, 9 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 20200130000289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200130000289A), Jan 30, 2020: Cessna 150L, Big Lake, AK, Substantial damage. On 01/30/2020 aircraft departed merrill field Alaska and landed in Big Lake Alaska to pick up a friend. The pilot and friend flew north to talkeetna and then… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100890. 8.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486832&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (Connell) (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486833&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20(Connell)-Master.PDF - Photographs (item 3, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486834&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs-Master.PDF 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.