ATL06LA086

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150M · Bishopville, SC · May 27, 2006

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 26, 2006, 20:00 local (May 27, 2006, 00:00 UTC)
Place
Bishopville, SC
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N66058Cessna 150M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 25, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Columbia FSDO-13
FAA report
20060526012059A
Case key
63821

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during the approach to land, which resulted in an off-airport emergency landing.

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.

Loss of engine powerApproach - vfr pattern - downwind
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The private certificated pilot stated that he departed his local airport to fly over to a private airstrip with the intention of conducting a touch and go landing before returning. He said he flew over the private airstrip, and noted that the winds were calm according to the windsock. He entered the downwind leg for runway 06. He pulled the power back to slow the airplane, and engaged the carburetor heat. The pilot stated that the engine started "missing and lost all pulling power but continued to run." When he attempted to increase power, the engine did not respond. He was unable to make the landing on the airstrip, and decided to make an emergency landing in a nearby wheat field. During the approach he banked the airplane to the left to avoid hitting a tree. The left wing hit the ground, and the airplane cart wheeled and came to rest inverted on the ground. The pilot did not report any flight control anomalies prior to the accident. Examination of the engine by an FAA inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine.

Factual narrative

On May 26, 2006 at 2000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N66058, registered to and operated by a private individual as a 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, lost engine power during approach to land and collided with the ground, near Bishopville, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight originated from Hartsville Regional Airport (HVS), Hartsville, South Carolina on May 26, 2006 at 1930.

The pilot stated that he departed HVS to fly over to a private strip, Mitchell Field, near Bishopville, with the intention of conducting a touch and go landing before returning to HVS. He flew over the private strip, and noted that the winds were calm according to the windsock. He entered the downwind leg for runway 06, and began to prepare the airplane for landing. He pulled the power back to slow the airplane down and engaged the carburetor heat. The pilot stated that the engine started "missing and lost all pulling power but continued to run". When he attempted to increase power the engine did not respond. He was unable to make the landing on the airstrip and decided to make an emergency landing in a nearby wheat field. During the approach he banked the airplane to the left to avoid hitting a tree. The left wing hit the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted on the ground. The pilot did not report any flight control anomalies prior to the accident. Examination of the engine by a FAA inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine.

Aircraft

Registration
N66058
Reported as
Cessna 150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15075806
Airframe hours
7,517
Engine
Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Johnny Payne
Registered owner
Johnny Payne
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
100 hour · March 1, 2006 · 50 hours before
Departed
HVS · Hartsville, SC
Destination
52J · Bishopville, SC
Airport
52J · Lee County, runway 06, 3,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf

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
37
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 1, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
295 total · 83 in this make and model · 223 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 8 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
20,000 ft broken
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 64 °F
Altimeter
29.77 inHg
Observed at
KSSC, 20 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.