# NTSB ANC90FA046: Cessna 150, N61272, Birchwood, AK, March 29, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 1990, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Birchwood, AK - Coordinates: 61.410377, -149.169998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4104&lon=-149.1700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 1991 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 5287 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90FA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5287/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90FA046 ## Probable cause CARBURETOR ICE DUE TO THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, UNFAVORABLE WIND, AND THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel grade - other - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - Forced landing, landing - Nose gear collapsed, landing - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO PRACTICE A TOUCH-&-GO LANDING, THE PLT NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THE ACFT'S RATE OF DSCNT. HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO CORRECT THE RATE OF DSCNT, BUT THE ENG DID NOT RESPOND. HE THEN APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, BUT THERE WAS STILL NO RESPONSE. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RWY ON SNW COVERED TERRAIN IN VARIABLE WIND CONDS & THENOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE MAIN GEAR HIT THE TOP OF THE PERIMETER FENCE, WHICH RESULTED IN MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FENCE. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED NO MECHANICAL REASON FOR A MALFUNCTION. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE, WHICH ALLOWED FOR THE USE OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. IT WAS BEING OPERATED WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL, WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 40 & 37 DEG, RESPECTIVELY, WHICH WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICE. THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE HAD THROTTLED BACK TO 2100 RPM ON DOWNWIND, THEN ON BASE LEG, HE THROTTLED BACK TO 1600 RPM & APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61272](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61272-2005-02-17), registration cancelled 2005-02-17, S/N 15070933, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070933 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William Lee Laflen - Registered owner: William L Laflen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 1989, 30 hours before - Departed: Z15 - Airport: Z15, Birchwood, runway 1, 4,000 × 75 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 114 total, 110 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19900329006479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900329006479A), Mar 29, 1990: Cessna 150J, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. Struck airport boundary fence on final for touch and go. Impacted short. Reported lost power. ## Other investigations on N61272 (3) 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 ANC94LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA118), Aug 22, 1994: Cessna 150J (N61272), Talkeentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE UNSUITABLE TAKEOFF AREA SELECTED. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT SPOT IN THE AIRSTRIP'S SURFACE. - [NTSB ANC92LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA103), Jul 13, 1992: Cessna 150 (N61272), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT STALLING OF THE AIRPLANE AND AN INADEQUATE ALTITUDE IN WHICH HE COULD RECOVER. FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WATER IN THE FUEL. - [NTSB ANC75DAD05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC75DAD05), May 15, 1975: Cessna 150J (N61272), Juneau, AK, substantial damage 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.