- Date
- December 5, 2008, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Auxvasse, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1521QCessna 150
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 24, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20081205852279A
- Case key
- 69573
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 pilot's improper engine recovery procedures after a power-off stall which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing factors were the pilot's improper off-field landing procedures, and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot departed the local airport with intent of practicing traffic pattern work and basic flight maneuvers. After 3 touch and go maneuvers, the pilot departed the traffic pattern and flew the airplane to the designated practice area. After performing a couple 360-degrees turns and slow flight, the pilot attempted a power-off stall. In order to prepare for the power-off stall, the pilot retarded the throttle and applied the carburetor heat. During the recovery of the power-off stall, the pilot "rapidly" applied engine power, closed the carburetor heat, and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, however, the restart was unsuccessful. The pilot elected to perform an emergency off-airport landing. During the forced landing to a field, the pilot landed the airplane in a downwind direction and was high on the final approach. The pilot stated that he should have slipped the airplane during the approach which would have allowed for "use of more of the chosen field...a longer flare and a lighter touchdown at a lower airspeed." The airplane impact crops and terrain and came to rest on its nose. Examination of the airplane revealed the firewall was buckled. According to a designated pilot examiner, the rapid throttle application can result in engine flooding and subsequent engine failure.
Factual narrative
The pilot departed the local airport with intent of practicing traffic pattern work and basic flight maneuvers. After 3 touch and go maneuvers, the pilot departed the traffic pattern and flew the airplane to the designated practice area. After performing a couple 360-degrees turns and slow flight, the pilot attempted a power-off stall. In order to prepare for the power-off stall, the pilot retarded the throttle and applied the carburetor heat. During the recovery of the power-off stall, the pilot "rapidly" applied engine power, closed the carburetor heat, and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, however, the restart was unsuccessful. The pilot elected to perform an emergency off-airport landing. During the forced landing to a field, the pilot landed the airplane in a downwind direction and was high on the final approach. The pilot stated that he should have slipped the airplane during the approach which would have allowed for "use of more of the chosen field...a longer flare and a lighter touchdown at a lower airspeed." The airplane impact crops and terrain and came to rest on its nose. Examination of the airplane revealed the firewall was buckled. According to a designated pilot examiner, the rapid throttle application can result in engine flooding and subsequent engine failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1521Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 150 (L)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15072821
- Airframe hours
- 9,262
- Engine
- Continental O200, 100 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- David S. Hollabaugh
- Registered owner
- Fulton Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 16, 2008
- Departed
- FTT · Fulton, MO
- Destination
- FTT · Fulton, MO
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
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 2, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 92 total · 33 in this make and model · 53 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Observed at
- COU, 19 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.