# NTSB DEN91LA055: Cessna 150J, N51100, Watkins, CO, March 28, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 27, 1991, 20:15 local (Mar 28, 1991, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: Watkins, CO
- Coordinates: 39.749546, -104.600341 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7495&lon=-104.6003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18078
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18078/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA055

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED AND THE ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED COULD NOT BE MAINTAINED. JUST BEFORE THE PILOT COULD ALIGN HIS AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. CAUSE OF THE PARTIAL POWER LOSS WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51100](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51100-2012-09-10), registration cancelled 2012-09-10, S/N 15069765, built 1968 (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: 15069765
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Andrew & Assoc.
- Registered owner: Andrew & Assoc
- Departed: FTR, WATKINS, CO
- Airport: FTG, Front Range, runway 8, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 13,628 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 12,712 as pilot in command, 119 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910327007709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910327007709A), Mar 27, 1991: Cessna 150J, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Stalled trying to turn back to airport when engine failed on climbout. No defects. Possibly carburetor ice.

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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