- Date
- September 22, 2014, 05:08 local (10:08 UTC)
- Place
- Brookfield, WI
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N50889Cessna 150J
- Defining event
- Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Continental Motors Inc, Textron Aviation, Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140922016349A
- Case key
- 90135
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 inadequate maintenance and preflight of the airplane which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to oil starvation.
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 airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during an enroute climb to cruise. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field where the airplane struck trees and sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that he forgot to add engine oil during an oil change he performed on the airplane before the accident flight. He said he forgot to add the oil because he was rushed and had personal activities to perform. Examination of the airplane confirmed engine oil starvation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no other mechanical anomalies that would have precluded airplane operation. The pilot held a private pilot certificate and a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings.
Factual narrative
The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during an enroute climb to cruise. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field where the airplane struck trees and sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that he forgot to add engine oil during an oil change he performed on the airplane before the accident flight. He said he forgot to add the oil because he was rushed and had personal activities to perform. Examination of the airplane confirmed engine oil starvation. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no other mechanical anomalies that would have precluded airplane operation. The pilot held a private pilot certificate and a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N50889
- Reported as
- Cessna 150J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15069621
- Built
- 1968
- Airframe hours
- 2,874
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pilot
- Registered owner
- Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 21, 2013
- Departed
- 02C · Brookfield, WI
- Destination
- 02C · Brookfield, WI
- Airport
- 02C · Capitol Airport, runway 3, 3,010 × 44 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
- 79
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 19, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- None
- Flight hours
- 1,054 total · 1,048 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Observed at
- UES, 5 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 559 KB in all.
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 N50889 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.