- Date
- August 22, 1993, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Rochester, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N74GTCessna 150J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930822030019A
- Case key
- 9291
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 commercial pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation.
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
Shortly after the pilot turned the airplane back toward the airport, there was a loss of engine power. The airplane nosed over during the ensuing forced landing. The pilot reported he '...probably got water in the gas line during (45 degree) right turn.' He stated there was no mechanical failure. The airplane was operating on automotive fuel.
Factual narrative
On August 22, 1993, at 1545 hours eastern standard time, a Cessna 150J, N74GT, piloted by the commercial pilot/airplane owner, experienced a loss of engine power while inbound to land at the Rochester Fulton County Airport, Rochester, Indiana. The airplane sustained substantial damage during the off-airport forced landing. The pilot received minor injuries, the one passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Rochester, Indiana at 1515 hours.
The pilot reported the 13 year old passenger took photographs and handled the flight controls for a few minutes during the local pleasure flight. He stated when they turned back toward the airport he "...did a 45 degree bank to the right - a short time later, engine quit - probably got water in the gas line during right turn." The pilot attempted to return to the airport, but was unable to glide the estimated five mile distance. The airplane landed on a "...large factory lawn..." and nosed over. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction. The airplane was fueled with automotive gasoline.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N74GT
- Reported as
- Cessna 150J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15070302
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Thompson, Gene D.
- Registered owner
- Thompson, Gene D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 2, 1993 · 20 hours before
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
- 72
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,008 total · 474 in this make and model · 1,008 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 13,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GUS, 28 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.