- Date
- December 29, 1991, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Glenwood, NM
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N306BJCessna 150E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19911229057509A
- Case key
- 18189
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
Partial failure of the spark plugs. Factors were inadequate annual inspection and unsuitable mountainous terrain.
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 topped off both fuel tanks with autogas and departed with a friend to search for game. While climbing, the engine lost power and the pilot was forced to land on unsuitable mountainous terrain. Examination confirmed engine continuity. The carburetor, air filter, and magnetos were unremarkable. Four of the eight spark plus failed to fire when tested. After cleaning, none of the spark plugs would fire at 80 PSI in a test chamber. An annual inspection had been accomplished the day before the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N306BJ
- Reported as
- Cessna 150E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15061160
- Airframe hours
- 4,704
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Fred & Beverly Chappell
- Registered owner
- Fred & Beverly Chappell
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 28, 1991 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Gila, NM
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 398 total · 140 in this make and model · 398 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N306BJ · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.