- Date
- December 14, 1999, 09:10 local (15:10 UTC)
- Place
- Omaha, NE
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N7339XCessna 150B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19991214047219A
- Case key
- 48519
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 pilots failure to use carburetor heat during takeoff in weather conducive for serious carburetor ice. Factors were the weather that was conducive for carburetor icing and the presence of the truck that the aircraft impacted.
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 aircraft experienced an engine failure after departure. The certified flight instructor (CFI) executed a forced landing on a road where the aircraft wing contacted a semi-truck. A postaccident examination revealed no preexisting anomalies with respect to the aircraft or aircraft systems. The CFI reported no mechanical malfunction. A weather report stated a temperature of 32 degrees F., and a dewpoint of 28 degrees F. According to the carburetor icing chart by Transport Canada, the temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident fall within the range of serious icing potential. FAA AC 20-113 states, 'When the relative humidity is above 50 percent and the temperature is below 70 degrees F., apply carburetor heat briefly immediately before takeoff, particularly with float type carburetors, to remove any ice which may have been accumulated during taxi and runup.'
Factual narrative
On December 14, 1999, at 0910 central standard time, a Cessna 150B, N7339X, owned and piloted by a certified flight instructor (CFI), sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on a road, following an engine failure during climbout from the North Omaha Airport (3NO), Omaha, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local instructional flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The CFI and dual student reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
In a written statement, the CFI stated, "shortly after departure, approximately 700 feet agl, 2,022 feet msl, the aircraft experienced a failed engine." The CFI stated that she executed a forced landing on a road and the aircraft contacted a semi-truck.
A postaccident examination of the aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed no preexisting anomalies with respect to the aircraft or aircraft systems. In a written report, the CFI reported no mechanical malfunction.
The Eppley Airfield weather reporting station (OMA), Omaha, Nebraska, located 7 miles on a magnetic heading of 124 degrees from the accident site reported, at 0852, clear skies, winds from 090 degrees at 6 knots, an altimeter setting of 29.80 inches of mercury, a temperature of 32 degrees F., and a dewpoint of 28 degrees F. A carburetor icing probability chart developed by Transport Canada depicts regions of temperature and dewpoint that are conducive for the development of carburetor ice. FAA Advisory Circular AC 20-113 "Pilot Precautions and Procedures to be Taken in Preventing Aircraft Reciprocating Engine Induction System and Fuel System Icing Problems" states under Prevention Procedures, "When the relative humidity is above 50 percent and the temperature is below 70 degrees F., apply carburetor heat briefly immediately before takeoff, particularly with float type carburetors, to remove any ice which may have been accumulated during taxi and runup.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7339X
- Reported as
- Cessna 150B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15059439
- Airframe hours
- 9,454
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Natasha C. Holmstrom
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 1999 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- 3NO
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
- 23
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 439 total · 301 in this make and model · 358 as pilot in command · 118 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 32 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OMA, 7 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.
Other investigations on N7339X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.