- Date
- February 13, 1982, 20:00 local (Feb 14, 1982, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Altamont, IL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N9447UCessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report February 13, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820213004039A
- Case key
- 69751
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
About five to ten minutes after takeoff at night, the engine began to lose power and then suddenly stopped. Pilot elected to land in a light colored area that was surrounded by darker areas. During the approach, the aircraft struck a tree which damaged the left wing and tail, and knocked the windshield out. At this time, the engine began running. The pilot added power and the plane settled to the ground which was covered with 14 inches of snow. After touchdown the nose gear folded and the wheel pants separated from the landing gear. An investigation revealed that the heat duct to the carburetor air box was deteriorated to the extent that heat would have been diverted from the carburetor. However, the investigation revealed no other mechanical malfunctions or failures. The temperature and dew point were 21 and 15 degrees, respectively.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9447U
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 78395
- Airframe hours
- 2,276
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- David Vaughan
- Registered owner
- Harry Lutz
- Departed
- VLA · Effingham, IL
- Destination
- Vandalia, IL
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 6,000 total · 300 in this make and model · 5,800 as pilot in command · 126 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 200° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Temperature
- 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.