# NTSB ANC99LA034: Cessna 150, N8620S, Fairbanks, AK, March 16, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 16, 1999, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.899246, -148.159454 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8992&lon=-148.1595&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45956/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA034 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Analysis The private pilot rented the accident airplane from a local flight school. He reported that while in cruise flight, the engine began to run rough, and lose power. The engine continued to lose power until altitude could no longer be maintained, and the pilot selected a frozen lake as an emergency landing site. He said that as the airplane touched down, deep snow pivoted the airplane to the right, and the left wing struck the snow. An FAA inspector interviewed the owner of the airplane on the following day. He reported that the owner and his mechanic traveled to the accident site in order to recover the accident airplane. The owner told the FAA inspector that upon arrival at the accident site, the engine primer was found in the unlocked position. He added that once the primer was placed in the locked position, the engine was started. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and elevator. During a subsequent follow-up telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot said the airplane's primer was in and locked at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On March 16, 1999, about 1130 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150 airplane, N8620S, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing, about 40 miles northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot was renting the airplane from Quicksilver Airways of Fairbanks. The certificated private pilot and the one passenger aboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, about 1030. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on March 16, the pilot reported that while in cruise flight, the engine began to run rough, and lose power. The engine continued to lose power until altitude could no longer be maintained, and the pilot selected a frozen lake as an emergency landing site. He said that as the airplane touched down, deep snow pivoted the airplane to the right, and the left wing struck the snow. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office, interviewed the owner of the airplane the following day. He reported that the airplane owner and his mechanic traveled to the accident site in order to recover the accident airplane. The inspector did not accompany the owner to the accident site. The owner told the FAA inspector that upon his arrival at the accident site, the engine primer was found to be in the unlocked position. The owner added that once the primer was placed in the locked position, the engine was started. Due to propeller damage sustained in the accident, the engine was only run at an idle. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and elevator. During a subsequent follow-up telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot said the airplane's primer was in and locked at the time of the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8620S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8620S), registered now, S/N 15061920, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15061920 - Airframe hours: 4961 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Quicksilver Airways - Registered owner: Tim Coninx - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 1999, 6 hours before - Departed: FAI, AK - Destination: FYU, FORT YUKON, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 112 total, 11 in this make and model, 88 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 19 °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 19990316013829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990316013829A), Mar 16, 1999: Cessna 150F, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On March 16, 1999, about 1130 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150 airplane, N8620S, sustained substantial damage during an emergency… ## Other investigations on N8620S (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC92LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA034), Feb 8, 1992: Cessna 150 (N8620S), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE ALTITUDE NECESSARY FOR TERRAIN CLEARANCE ON THE FINAL APPROACH. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOWBANK AND THE DUSK LIGHTING CONDITIONS. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.