- Date
- July 10, 2002, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ft. Wayne, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8798SCessna 150F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-South Bend, Indiana - FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020710019509A
- Case key
- 55202
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 corroded throttle cable resulting in a loss of engine power. Factors were the inadequate annual inspection, the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing, the ditch, and the fence.
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 airplane was damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power during climb after takeoff. The airplane went through a ditch and struck a fence during the forced landing attempt. The pilot was attempting to return to the departure airport for a landing opposite the direction of takeoff. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the throttle cable housing was corroded through where the cable passes over the battery. Additionally, an examination of the fuel system revealed traces of water in the gascolator bowl. No other anomalies were found. The airplane had received an annual inspection on April 13, 2002.
Factual narrative
On July 10, 2002, about 1800 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150F, N8798S, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing after a loss of engine power during climb after takeoff from runway 32 (8,000 feet by 150 feet, asphalt/concrete), at the Ft. Wayne International Airport, Fort Wayne, Indiana. The airplane went through a ditch and struck a fence during the forced landing attempt. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and the intended destination was the Confer's Place Airstrip, Arcola, Indiana.
The pilot said that he performed a normal preflight inspection and runup prior to starting the flight. He said that after takeoff, the engine, "quit like the key was turned off." He said that he pumped the throttle and began the emergency checklist and the engine began producing power again. The pilot was attempting to return to the departure airport for a landing on runway 14. He said that the engine ran for about 15 seconds and then stopped producing power again. The airplane touched down on airport property and went through a ditch and struck a fence during the forced landing attempt.
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the throttle cable housing was corroded through where the cable passes over the battery. Additionally, an examination of the fuel system revealed traces of water in the gascolator bowl. The fuel smelled and looked as if it were automobile gasoline. A review of the airplane records showed that the airplane had a supplemental type certificate allowing the use of automobile gasoline. No other anomalies were found.
According to the pilot's report, the airplane had received an annual inspection on April 13, 2002.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8798S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15062098
- Airframe hours
- 6,505.2
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mark A. Confer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 13, 2002 · 12.5 hours before
- Departed
- FWA · Ft. Wayne, IN
- Destination
- 1IN3 · Arcola, IN
- Airport
- FWA · Fort Wayne International
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
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- August 25, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 620 total · 133 in this make and model · 539 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KFWA
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 415 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.