# NTSB CEN23LA114: Cessna 150, N6536G, Venus, TX, February 18, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 18, 2023, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Venus, TX - Coordinates: 32.36, -97.03 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3600&lon=-97.0300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 106757 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106757/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106757 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA114 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that while practicing power off stalls the student pilot added engine power and was retracting the wing flaps when the engine began to lose power. The instructor took control of the airplane and scanned the engine instruments. He noted that oil temperature was in the green range and the oil pressure was 0 psi and blinking in the red. The engine lost total power and the flight instructor performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll out, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the empennage and vertical stabilizer. An examination of the airframe and an engine run did not detect any preimpact anomalies that would have contributed to a loss of engine power. The airplane was operating in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at glide power. The instructor reported the use of carburetor heat during the flight training. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined with the available information. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2023, about 1100 central standard time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N6536G, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Venus, Texas. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. The flight instructor stated that while practicing power off stall recoveries, the student pilot had added engine power and was retracting the wing flaps when the engine began to lose power. The instructor took control of the airplane and scanned the engine instruments. He noted that oil temperature was in the green range and the oil pressure was 0 psi and blinking in the red. The engine lost total power and the flight instructor performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll out, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the empennage and vertical stabilizer. The airplane was recovered back to the flight school. An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the flight school and examined the airframe and engine. No preimpact anomalies were noted. The engine remained attached to the airframe and the investigator started the engine normally and idled the engine at 900 rpm for several minutes. Oil pressure was indicating in the normal operating range. The power was then advanced to 1,300 rpm with no discrepancies observed. Due to safety concerns, the engine power was not advanced further. When the investigator actuated the carburetor heat control, there was a drop in engine speed as expected. A magneto check was performed without any deficiencies noted. A review of the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart located in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, dated June 30, 2009, found that the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at glider power. The instructor reported the use of carburetor heat during the stall training. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6536G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6536G), registered now, S/N 15072036 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15072036 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 6060.8 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aviator Air LLC - Registered owner: Messersmith Brian W - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 29, 2022, 36.9 hours before - Departed: KGPM, Grand Prairie, TX - Airport: n/a - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 314 total, 7 in this make and model, 248 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: unknown; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.47 inHg - Observed at: KJWY, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KJWY 181655Z AUTO 18009G14KT 10SM CLR 08/M02 A3047 RMK AO2 T00801025= ## 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 20230218005299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230218005299A), Feb 18, 2023: Cessna 150L, Venus, TX, Substantial damage. Interview of CFI indicated that the engine lost power while recovering from a power off stall maneuver as the throttle was advanced forward. No previous issues… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106757. 155 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15432789&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA114%20NTSB%20FORM%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15434187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.pdf - Engine examination notes (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15434384&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA114%20-%20Examination%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15434197&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA114%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Rel.pdf - Engine run video (item 5, MOV, 147 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15434018&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=P4260078-Rel.MOV 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.