- Date
- July 7, 1991, 13:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place
- Fairbanks, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5321QCessna 150L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 7, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19910707026329A
- Case key
- 5576
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The partial loss of engine power resulting in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain and subsequent nose over during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the improperly performed 100 hour inspection by company maintenance personnel.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During flight the pilot experienced a partial power loss when the engine failed to respond to throttle movements. Investigation revealed that the bolt had come out of the throttle cable rod end that connects to the carburetor. None of the connecting hardware was found. A forced landing was made on unsuitable terrain and the airplane nosed over.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5321Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 150L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15073221
- Airframe hours
- 3,953
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald K. Sparks
- Registered owner
- Donald K. Sparks
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 25, 1992 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- FAI · AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 12,296 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 12,227 as pilot in command · 76 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5321Q · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.