# NTSB ERA11LA411: Cessna 150M, N8576U, Elizabethtown, KY, July 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2011, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Elizabethtown, KY - Coordinates: 37.686111, -85.925003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6861&lon=-85.9250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81167 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA411 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81167/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81167 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA411 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01020000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 39 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to pick up a banner when the engine lost power and the airplane stalled. The pilot partially recovered from the stall; however, the left wing struck the ground and the airplane collided with a ditch. The wings and fuselage received substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction. At the time of the accident, the airplane was not being operated in conditions conducive to carburetor icing. The reason for the power loss could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2011, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N8576U, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and collision with terrain at Addington Field Airport (EKX), Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Pro Air Enterprises, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a banner tow flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for Louisville, Kentucky (LOU). The pilot reported the following. Shortly after takeoff, he was attempting to pick up a banner. The engine lost power and the airplane stalled. He made a partial recovery from the stall; however, the left wing struck the ground and the airplane collided with a ditch. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The left and right wings and the fuselage received structural damage. There was evidence of spilled fuel at the accident site. Fuel was present in the carburetor and gascolator. All spark plugs appeared normal. No visible obstructions in the intake or exhaust except for dirt from the ground impact. Compression was observed an all cylinders when the crankshaft was rotated. Both magnetos produced spark to all leads when rotated. The inspector did not find evidence of an anomaly or failure that would explain the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8576U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8576U-2012-04-12), registration cancelled 2012-04-12, S/N 15077953, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15077953 - Airframe hours: 7038 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Banner tow, Part 91 - Operator: Pro Air Enterprises Inc - Registered owner: Pro Air Enterprises Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 9, 2011, 5 hours before - Departed: EKX, Elizabethtown, KY - Destination: LOU, Louisville, KY - Airport: EKX, Addington Field, runway 23, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,664 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 2,600 as pilot in command, 108 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 82 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: FTK, 12 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 20110720014649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110720014649A), Jul 20, 2011: Cessna 150M, Elizabethtown, KY, Destroyed. While conducting banner towing operations, the pilot of N8576U departed from ekx and attempted to pick up the banner that he was scheduled to tow. After… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81167. 815 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 737 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Correspondence with FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356216&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF 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.