# NTSB DEN85LA138: Cessna 150H, N50011, Clovis, NM, May 20, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1985, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Clovis, NM
- Coordinates: 34.410549, -103.199737 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4105&lon=-103.1997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16680
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA138
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16680/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA138

## 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
  - fuel system,fuel shutoff - switched off (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, dual student (cause)
  - lack of recent experience, dual student (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - emergency procedure - improper, dual student (cause)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - not corrected
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - open field
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE OWNER OF THE ACFT HAD NOT FLOWN RECENTLY, SO HE GOT AN INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) TO ACCOMPANY HIM. THE OWNER PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT, DID A NORMAL RUN-UP & INITIATED A TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY RUN ROUGH. IT THEN QUIT ALTOGETHER & A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN MUDDY FIELD. WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL WAS LOWERED TO THE GROUND, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT & ENG REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SHUT-OFF HANDLE WAS IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. BOTH PLTS REPORTED THAT THEY HAD NOT TOUCHED THE FUEL SHUT-OFF HANDLE EITHER DURING OR AFTER THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N50011 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15069008
- Airframe hours: 3175
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Foe David Scott
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 12, 1984, 0 hours before
- Airport: CVN, Clovis Muni, runway 4, 6,200 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 125 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CVS, 10 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850520018469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850520018469A), May 20, 1985: Cessna 150H, Clovis, NM, Substantial damage. Landed in field and flipped over after power loss on takeoff. Fuel selector found in off position.

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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