# NTSB CHI87LA131: Cessna 150J, N50499, Neillsville, WI, May 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 17, 1987, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Neillsville, WI
- Coordinates: 44.560089, -90.589263 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5601&lon=-90.5893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13768
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13768/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87LA131

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - fluid,fuel grade - improper
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- Nose over, landing
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE ON A DUAL X-COUNTRY FLT FM ELROY TO NEILLSVILLE & RTRN. THE FLT TO NEILLSVILLE WAS UNEVENTFULL. AFTER THE ACFT WAS ON THE GND APRX 20 MIN, HOT STARTING PROCEDURES WERE USED TO START THE ENG FOR THE RTRN FLT. ENG RUNUP & TAKEOFF WERE NORMAL UNTIL THE ACFT WAS APRX 150 FT AGL, THEN THE ENG LOST PWR. THE CFI TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT & ATMTD A RESTART WHILE PUMPING THE THROTTLE. HE TURNED RGT ABOUT 30 DEG FOR AN EMERG LNDG. DRG THE LNDG, THE ACFT HIT THE TOPS OF SMALL TREES, ENCOUNTERED SOFT DIRT & NOSED OVER. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT BEGAN BURNING & WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.DRG THE INVESTIGATION, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT BELIEVED THE LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO A VAPOR LOCK, BUT THIS WAS NOT VERIFIED. THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT HAD BEEN SVCD WITH A 50/50 MIXTURE OF 100 OCTANE LOW LEAD FUEL & NO-LEAD AUTO FUEL. LYCOMING SVC INSTRN #1070K DID NOT PERMIT THE USE OF AUTO FUEL DUE TO ITS CORROSIVE EFFECT & BECAUSE OF VAPOR LOCK THAT COULD RESULT FM ITS HI VAPOR PRESSURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50499](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50499-1989-03-06), registration cancelled 1989-03-06, S/N 15069348 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J
- Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Airframe hours: 4064
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: E And H Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, August 25, 1986, 25 hours before
- Departed: VIQ, NEILLSVILLE, WI
- Destination: 60C, ELROY, WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: VIQ, Neillsville Muni, runway 9, 3,000 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,429 total, 35 in this make and model, 6,079 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AUW

## 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 19870517013579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870517013579A), May 17, 1987: Cessna STC150, Neillsville, WI, Destroyed. Engine quit on climbout, crashed and burned. Using auto fuel not approved.

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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