# NTSB CEN15CA236: Cessna 150C, N1924Z, Durango, CO, May 17, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 17, 2015, 14:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Durango, CO
- Coordinates: 37.336666, -107.867774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3367&lon=-107.8678&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Salt Lake City FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91198
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA236
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91198/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91198
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA236

## Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071808), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was on a local flight in mountainous terrain. While returning to the airport he began a descent by reducing power to about 60 percent, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power. The pilot applied full carburetor heat and full throttle and the engine regained power. He continued a shallow descent with full throttle and carburetor heat for about another 5 minutes. He closed the carburetor heat and continued the descent at 75 percent engine power. Within less than a minute, the engine lost complete power again. The pilot applied carburetor heat and full throttle, along with mixture adjustments and pumping the throttle, but the engine did not restart. He attempted a forced landing to a local highway. During the final approach, he avoided power lines by flying under them, but he was unable to flare the airplane before touchdown. The nose strut assembly sheared off during the landing and the right wing struck an embankment which resulted in substantial damage. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing during a descent.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was on a local flight in mountainous terrain. While returning to the airport he began a descent by reducing power to about 60 percent, which resulted in a complete loss of engine power. The pilot applied full carburetor heat and full throttle and the engine regained power. He continued a shallow descent with full throttle and carburetor heat for about another 5 minutes. He closed the carburetor heat and continued the descent at 75 percent engine power. Within less than a minute, the engine lost complete power again. The pilot applied carburetor heat and full throttle, along with mixture adjustments and pumping the throttle, but the engine did not restart. He attempted a forced landing to a local highway. During the final approach, he avoided power lines by flying under them, but he was unable to flare the airplane before touchdown. The nose strut assembly sheared off during the landing and the right wing struck an embankment which resulted in substantial damage. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing during a descent.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1924Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1924Z-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 15059724, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150C (C)
- Registry model: [Cessna 150C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150c) (registry code 2071808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15059724
- Year built: 1962
- Airframe hours: 6301
- Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Barnes Daudi M
- Registered owner: Barnes Daudi M
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2014
- Departed: OOC, Durango, CO
- Destination: OOC, Durango, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review July 5, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 341 total, 231 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: DRO, 12 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20150517006729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150517006729A), May 17, 2015: Cessna 150C, Durango, CO, Substantial damage. After a local flight while descending to land at 00C the aircraft engine cut out. The pilot attempted to land on a road and upon landing the nose gear broke…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91198. 3.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427107&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Carburetor Icing Chart (item 2, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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