- Date
- December 4, 1993, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place
- Griffin, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4092JCessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931204046019A
- Case key
- 3331
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
Fuel starvation caused by foreign matter blockage of the fuel tank vent system.
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
While maneuvering the airplane for a 45 degree entry into the traffic pattern, the engine lost power. After an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the pilot selected an open field for an emergency landing. On landing roll, the pilot intentionally swerved and hit a tree with the left wing to avoid colliding with a house at the end of the field. Post accident investigation of the airplane revealed that the fuel tank vent system was completely blocked by an insect nest inside the vent.
Factual narrative
On December 4, 1993, at 1045 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150, N4092J was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain near Griffin, Georgia. Neither the flight instructor nor the student pilot were injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local, instructional flight. The flight departed Griffin, Georgia, at about 0930.
The pilot stated that while maneuvering for a 45 degree entry into the traffic pattern, the engine lost power and that attempts to restart the airplane engine were unsuccessful. The pilot then force landed the airplane in an open field and intentionally swerved and struck the left wing on a tree to avoid colliding with a house at the end of the field.
Post accident investigation of the airplane revealed that the fuel tank vent was completely blocked by a dirt dobber nest. The nest was located at the first 90 degree bend of the vent approximately 3 inches from the end of the vent. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failure and the engine was successfully run after the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4092J
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 150-65392
- Airframe hours
- 5,045
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Thrasher, Albert A.
- Registered owner
- Quicktrip Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 20, 1993 · 55 hours before
- Airport
- 6A2 · Griffin-Spalding County, runway 13, 3,301 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 55
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,969 total · 100 in this make and model · 3,800 as pilot in command · 180 in the last 90 days · 120 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ATL, 25 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.
Other investigations on N4092J · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.