- Date
- August 31, 1997, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC)
- Place
- Romeo, MI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N60200Cessna 150J
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970831039909A
- Case key
- 10687
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 pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor ice and loss of engine power. Factors relating to the accident were: carburetor icing conditions, and the crop (corn) in the emergency landing area.
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
The pilot said that when he was turning final for landing, a complete power loss occurred. Also, he said that trees on the approach prevented him from landing on the runway. Subsequently, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a corn field. At the time of the accident, visibility was restricted by fog. About thirty minutes after the accident, at an airport 20 miles to the west-southwest of the accident site, the temperature/dew point spread was one degree (62F/61F). According to an icing 'probability' chart, conditions were conducive for carburetor ice. The pilot said he thought he had used the carburetor heat during the flight, but was unable to recall the position of the carburetor heat at the time the engine suffered the loss of power. An examination of the airplane after the accident failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies.
Factual narrative
On August 31, 1997, at 0815 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N60200, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a corn field near Romeo, Michigan. The pilot said that when he was turning final for landing to the south at the Romeo Airport, the engine suffered a complete power loss and that trees on the approach prevented landing on the runway. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. Visibility was restricted in the area due to fog; however, exact conditions at the accident site were not reported. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed a private airport in Shelby Township, Michigan, about 0800.
The nearest weather reporting station was 20 miles to the west-southwest. Thirty minutes prior to the accident that reporting station was reporting visibility restricted to two and one half miles in fog. The temperature/dew point spread was one degree (62F/61F).
An icing "probability" chart is attached as an addendum to this report. The temperature and dew point calculations fall within the potential icing range for the float type carburetor on the accident airplane.
The pilot said that he thought that he had used the carburetor heat during the flight, but was unable to recall the position of the carburetor heat at the time the engine suffered the loss of power.
An inspection of the airplane and engine after the accident failed to reveal any preexisting mechanical anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N60200
- Reported as
- Cessna 150J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15070141
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John C. St. Clair
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 12, 1997
- Departed
- NONE · Shelby Township, MI
- Destination
- D98 · MI
- Flight plan
- Unknown
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
- 82
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 350 in this make and model · 400 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 2.5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KPT, 20 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.