# NTSB ANC96LA151: Cessna 150, N7909Z, Willow, AK, September 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 8, 1996, 17:45 local (Sep 9, 1996, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Willow, AK - Coordinates: 61.890399, -149.730133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8904&lon=-149.7301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2901 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2901/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA151 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Factors associated with the accident are the soft terrain and brush in the airstrip overrun area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Nose over, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway overrun area - soft (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway overrun area - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported she was practicing touch and go landings at an uncontrolled, gravel airstrip. After the third or fourth touch and go, during the initial climb at an estimated altitude of 300 to 400 feet above the ground, the airplane's engine surged, lost partial power, and then quit. The pilot said she was able to land the airplane on the overrun area at the departure end of the airstrip, but could not stop it from entering low brush and soft terrain, where it nosed over. The pilot said the airplane had ample fuel, and that she had applied the carburetor heat while on downwind. The engine was removed from the airframe and placed on an engine test stand. It started and ran without any observed mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative On September 8, 1996, about 1745 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150 airplane, N7909Z, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing at the Willow Airport, Willow, Alaska. The solo private certificated pilot was not injured. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1645. During an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on September 10, the pilot related that she was practicing touch and go landings on runway 13 at the uncontrolled Willow Airport. During the initial climb following the (approximate) fourth takeoff, at an estimated altitude of 300 to 400 feet above the ground, the pilot reported the engine suddenly lost partial power, and then regained power quickly. The engine lost power once again, and then quit. The pilot said she was able to land on the overrun area near the south end of runway 13. The airplane rolled for a short distance in low brush and soft terrain, and then slowly nosed over. The pilot indicated the airplane had ample fuel, and that she had activated the carburetor heat on the downwind pattern leg when abeam the approach end of the runway. The airplane's engine was removed from the airframe and placed on a mobile engine stand at Alaska Aircraft Engines, Anchorage, Alaska. The engine was supplied with fresh gasoline and started. It started and ran without any observed anomalies. Present at the engine run were the NTSB investigator-in-charge, and Federal Aviation Administration inspector Craig Johnson. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7909Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7909Z-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 15060009, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150c) (registry code 2071808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1500009 - Airframe hours: 3781 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Valerie A. Vanbrocklin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1995, 14 hours before - Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Airport: UUO, Willow, runway 13, 4,200 × 95 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 257 total, 144 in this make and model, 107 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 6 knots - Visibility: 90 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19960908026759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960908026759A), Sep 8, 1996: Cessna 150C, Willow, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff. Landed on runway overrun. In brush and soft ground nosed over. No anomalies found. ## Other investigations on N7909Z (1) 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 LAX03CA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03CA261), Aug 22, 2003: Cessna 150C (N7909Z), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate inflight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power due to an inadequate fuel supply. 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.