- Date
- November 11, 1993, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- West Milford, NJ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3481VCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931111042499A
- Case key
- 8865
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 an undetermined reason. A factor in this accident was the lack of suitable terrain to complete a forced 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.
Analysis
The pilot was executing a visual flight rules approach when the airplane's engine lost power. He initiated a power off forced landing. Due to the lack of suitable terrain, the airplane collided with trees during the landing. The airplane's engine was removed for further examination. The engine was placed on a test stand and successfully started and it was found to be operational throughout all power settings. No reason for the loss of engine power was found.
Factual narrative
On Thursday, November 11, 1993, at about 1700 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150, N3481V, collided with trees during the termination of a forced landing. The forced landing was precipitated by a total loss of engine power during approach. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was being operated by Glenn Larson of Bergenfield, New Jersey at the time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local area personal flight.
The pilot was interviewed by an FAA safety inspector after the accident. He said he was on final approach to Greenwood Lake Airport when the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot entered a power off forced landing. The airplane collided with trees during the forced landing. The engine was removed from the airplane and successfully ran. An examination of the engine did not reveal a reason for the loss of power.
Neither the pilot nor the operator provided a Pilot/Operator report after being requested to do so. Each were sent registered letters, but did not provide the required report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3481V
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15076516
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Glenn Larson
- Registered owner
- Glenn Larson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
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
- 68
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,350 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TEB
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 N3481V · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.