# NTSB CHI08CA275: Cessna 150H, N23461, Bay City, MI, August 30, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 30, 2008, 12:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Bay City, MI
- Coordinates: 43.546943, -83.895553 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5469&lon=-83.8956&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 3, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Rapids FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68935
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA275
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68935/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA275

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power during descent due to carburetor icing. Contributing to the accident was the collapse of the nose landing gear due to rough terrain.

## 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 150H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear strut/axle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023222/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Enroute-descent: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the engine "stumbled and quit" about 3 miles from the destination airport. He was able to momentarily restart the engine before the engine lost complete power. The pilot performed a forced landing into a cornfield and the nose gear collapsed when it encountered rough terrain. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power. The left and right fuel tanks contained approximately 3.9 gallons and 2.6 gallons, respectively. The temperature and dew point in the vicinity of the accident site were 24 degrees and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively. Data indicated the possibility of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power under those conditions. The pilot reported that his most recent flight review and FAA medical examination were completed in October 2003 and April 2004, respectively. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed during October 2005.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the engine "stumbled and quit" about 3 miles from the destination airport. He was able to momentarily restart the engine before the engine lost complete power. The pilot performed a forced landing into a cornfield and the nose gear collapsed when it encountered rough terrain. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power. The left and right fuel tanks contained approximately 3.9 gallons and 2.6 gallons, respectively. The temperature and dew point in the vicinity of the accident site were 24 degrees and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively. Data indicated the possibility of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power under those conditions. The pilot reported that his most recent flight review and FAA medical examination were completed in October 2003 and April 2004, respectively. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed during October 2005.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23461](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23461), registered now, S/N 15068964, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150H
- Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15068964
- Airframe hours: 3830.37
- Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 22, 2005
- Departed: 6MI1, Millington, MI
- Destination: K3CM, Bay City, MI
- Airport: K3CM, James Clements Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 7, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 30 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observed at: KMBS, 8 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 20080830846129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080830846129A), Aug 30, 2008: Cessna 150, Bay City, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed a private airport at milington, MI for Bay City. The aircraft lost power 2 miles from the runway at Bay City and landed short in a corn…

## Other investigations on N23461 (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI72FEM06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72FEM06), Jul 27, 1971: Cessna 150H (N23461), Freeland, MI, substantial damage

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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