- Date
- December 5, 1998, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Adjuntas, PR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5957TCessna 150B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 26, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19981205046969A
- Case key
- 45405
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 loss of engine power due to the restricted movement of the intake and exhaust valves on number 3 cylinder.
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 the initial climb after takeoff the engine lost power. The pilot elected to return to the airport for an emergency landing. The pilot was forced to land in a grassy area short of the airport. The engine examination disclosed that the number three cylinder had no compression and no intake or exhaust valve movement was noted when the engine was rotated though. .
Factual narrative
On December 5, 1998, at 1400 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150B, N5957T, collided with the ground during an attempted emergency landing at a private sod airstrip near Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident with no flight plan filed. The airplane sustained substantial airframe damage, and the private pilot was not injured. The accident occurred during the initial climb after takeoff from Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, at 1355.
The pilot in the Cessna 150B and two other men in the Cessna 172, departed Adjuntas, Puerto Rico enroute to Arecibo, Puerto Rico. According to the pilot of the Cessna 150B, both airplanes were inspected for oil and fuel during the preflight. The pilot stated that, during the initial climb after takeoff, the engine lost power and flight could not be maintained. The pilot elected to return to the airport for an emergency landing. The pilot was forced to land in a grassy area short of the runway.
The engine examination disclosed that the number three cylinder had no compression. The examination also disclosed that no intake or exhaust valve movement was noted when the engine was rotated though. Weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor icing conditions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5957T
- Reported as
- Cessna 150B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15060657
- Airframe hours
- 3,890
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ruben Espada
- Registered owner
- Gill Mercado
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 6, 1998 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- Adjuntas, PR
- Destination
- ABO · Arecibo, PR
- Airport
- Adjuntas, runway 12, 1,600 × 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
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,553 total · 1,800 in this make and model · 2,459 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SJU, 43 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 N5957T · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.