# NTSB CHI08CA280: Cessna 150G, N3899J, Urbana, OH, September 10, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2008, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Urbana, OH - Coordinates: 40.132499, -83.753608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1325&lon=-83.7536&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Columbus FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69038 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69038/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA280 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Contributing to the accident were environmental conditions conducive 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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031000/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that as she approached the destination airport after a 1-hour cross-country flight, she reduced engine power to approximately 2,300 rpm in order to descend to traffic pattern altitude. During the downwind leg, she further reduced engine power to 2,000 rpm to slow the airplane to for the approach. As she initiated a turn to base leg, she made a final reduction of engine power and activated the carburetor heat. During the turn to base leg, the engine began to lose power. The loss of engine power was reported to be gradual, not instantaneous, occurring over a period of approximately 5 seconds. The engine did not respond to throttle and mixture control movements. The pilot stated that the loss of engine power occurred 700-800 feet above ground level while on base leg. She said that she was worried about stalling the airplane and established a descent to remain above stall speed. The airplane landed in a grassy area about 50 feet short of the runway. Shortly after touchdown the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to an abrupt stop. The temperature and dew point in the vicinity of the accident site were 17 degrees and 12 degrees Celsius, respectively. Calculations using a carburator icing chart indicate the possibility of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power under the indicated conditions. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that she departed on the 1-hour cross country flight with 26 gallons of fuel on board. The pilot said that her cruise altitude varied between 2,500 and 3,000 feet mean sea level (msl). As the airplane approached the destination airport, she reduced engine power to approximately 2,300 rpm in order to descend to traffic pattern altitude. During the downwind leg, a reduction of engine power to 2,000 rpm was made to slow the airplane to approach airspeed. As she initiated a turn to base leg, a final reduction of engine power was made and the carburetor heat was activated. During the turn to base leg, the engine began to lose engine power. The loss of engine power was reported to be gradual, not instantaneous, occurring over a period of approximately 5 seconds. The engine did not respond to throttle and mixture control movements. The pilot stated that the loss of engine power occurred 700-800 feet above ground level (agl) while on base leg. She said that she was worried about stalling the airplane, and established a descent to remain above stall speed. The airplane landed in a grass area about 50 feet short of the runway. Shortly after touchdown the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to an abrupt stop. The temperature and dew point in the vicinity of the accident site were 17 degrees and 12 degrees Celsius, respectively. Data indicated the possibility of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power under those conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3899J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3899J-2009-08-26), registration cancelled 2009-08-26, S/N 15065199, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15065199 - Airframe hours: 11955 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 30, 2007 - Departed: K3G4, Ashland, OH - Destination: KI74, Urbana, OH - Airport: KI74, Grimes Field Airport, runway 20, 4,400 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 17, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 1,913 total, 455 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 2 knots, gusting 4 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: OH19, 6 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 20080910846169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080910846169A), Sep 10, 2008: Cessna 150G, Urbana, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot and passenger were on a personal flight from ashland (3G4) to Urbana (I74). During down wind for runway 2 the engine quit. The aircraft… 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.