- Date
- July 13, 1992, 16:29 local (22:29 UTC)
- Place
- Ft. Collins, CO
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N66315Cessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 24, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920713025069A
- Case key
- 18226
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
Improper rate of descent and lack of flare while conducting a forced landing. Factors were: partial power loss due to stuck exhaust valves caused by engine overheat from improper leaning.
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
Following takeoff, while conducting a local training flight, the engine began to run rough at an altitude of approximately 300 feet AGL. The flight instructor took control and conducted a forced landing in a field. Touch down was hard and the aircraft nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed two cylinders with exhaust valves stuck open. Evidence of overheat was present and all engine cooling devices were properly in place. The operator had briefed all his instructors on leaning to peak power due to high altitude performance degradation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66315
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15075984
- Airframe hours
- 7,270
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Gates, Robert L., doing business as Hoffman Pilot Center
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 8, 1992 · 92 hours before
- Departed
- 3V5
- Destination
- 3V5
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
- 37
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 793 total · 205 in this make and model · 727 as pilot in command · 84 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 22,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.