# NTSB DEN03LA149: Cessna 150J, N60571, Farmington, NM, September 6, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 2003, 08:01 local (14:01 UTC) - Place: Farmington, NM - Coordinates: 36.741111, -108.229721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7411&lon=-108.2297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57886 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57886/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA149 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper procedures/directives, and the delayed activation of carburetor heat which resulted in the loss of engine power and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing factors include the carburetor icing conditions, and the rough/uneven and drop-off/descending terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - procedures/directives - improper, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - carburetor heat - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - light condition - daylight - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was preparing to land on runway 07. He said he did not pull the carburetor heat on until after the turn to final. At that point, the engine "suffered a loss of power" but, it did not "miss or sputter." As the airplane descended below runway elevation, he attempted to land in the only available clear area. The airplane impacted the terrain and nosed over, separating the engine and substantially damaging the empennage. According to carburetor icing charts, the weather conditions were conducive for "serious" carburetor icing at any power setting. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 2003, at 0801 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N60571, operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing at Four Corners Regional Airport (FMN), Farmington, New Mexico. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Aztec, New Mexico, at approximately 0740. According to the tower operator at FMN, as the airplane was entering a left base for runway 07, an expletive was heard over the tower frequency and shortly thereafter an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was heard. When emergency personnel arrived at the site, they found the pilot had already pulled himself out of the inverted airplane and was sitting on the wing. Concerned about a possible fuel leak, they asked the pilot if he knew how much fuel was in the [fuel] tanks. The pilot said "we probably don't have to worry about a fuel leak." Although no fuel leak was noted, approximately 9 gallons of fuel was recovered from the fuel tanks. The pilot stated that he entered left downwind and was preparing for a touch-and-go landing on runway 07. He said he did not pull the carburetor heat on until after the turn to final. At that point, the engine "suffered a loss of power" but, it did not "miss or sputter." As the airplane descended below runway elevation, he attempted to land in the only available clear area. The airplane impacted the terrain on the landing gear. When the nose landing gear collapsed, the airplane nosed over and slid approximately 50 feet. The engine was separated from the fuselage, the top of the vertical stabilizer was crushed, and the empennage was buckled. At 0816, the recorded weather conditions at FMN was: wind, 090 degrees at 9 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; sky condition, clear; temperature, 16 degrees C.; dew point, 11 degrees C.; altimeter setting, 30.22. The calculated density altitude was 6,642 feet msl. According to carburetor icing charts, the weather conditions were conducive for "serious" carburetor icing at any power setting. According to the Cessna 150 pilot's operating handbook (POH), on the "Normal Procedures Checklist" under "Before Landing," item (2) Carburetor Heat, states, "Apply full heat before closing throttle." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60571](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60571-2013-04-25), registration cancelled 2013-04-25, S/N 15070413, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070413 - Airframe hours: 4000 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arnold & Platt - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2002, 68.6 hours before - Departed: Q19, Aztec, NM - Destination: FMN, Farmington, NM - Airport: FMN, Four Corners Regional, runway 07, 6,704 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,061 total, 990 in this make and model, 1,020 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: FMN ## 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 20030906025289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030906025289A), Sep 6, 2003: Cessna 150J, Farmington, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 6, 2003, at 0802 MDT, a Cessna 150 (N60571) registered to arnold & platt and operated by michael d. arnold, [privacy data omitted] collided… 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.