- Date
- October 5, 2011, 10:55 local (14:55 UTC)
- Place
- Punta Gorda, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N11280Cessna 150L
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Fuel contamination
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20111005024099A
- Case key
- 82001
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
The partial loss of engine power due to contamination of the fuel system that was not detected because of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power on final approach, and he made a forced landing off airport property; the airplane collided with the airport perimeter fence. Examination of the fuel system revealed that it was contaminated with water and rust. Although the pilot stated that he had completed a preflight inspection and found water in the fuel, he likely did not adequately sump the fuel system to remove the contamination.
Factual narrative
On October 5, 2011, at 1055 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N11280, experienced a partial loss of engine power while approaching to land and collided with the airport perimeter fence at Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), Punta Gorda, Florida. The airplane sustained structural damage to the airframe and wings. The airplane was registered to a private owner and operating as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport (GIF), Winter Haven, Florida, at 1000. According to the pilot, he departed GIF on cross country flight to PGD. Upon arrival he entered a downwind for runway 09. While turning on final approach the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power. The airplane landed short of the runway and on landing roll collided with airport perimeter fence. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed the left and right main fuel caps did not match and the fuel cap seals were deteriorated. The fuel tanks were sumped; and a half jar of rust and water was recovered from the left tank. The pilot stated in the interview with the inspector that he found water in the fuel during his preflight. A cursory examination was performed on the engine and an engine run-up was conducted. The engine ran successfully but could only be advanced to 1,500 rpm due to a bent propeller as result of the accident. No other anomalies were noted with the engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N11280
- Reported as
- Cessna 150L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15075294
- Airframe hours
- 1,697
- Engine
- Cont Motor O-200 SERIES, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Johnson William H
- Registered owner
- Johnson William H
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2010 · 13 hours before
- Departed
- GIF · Winter Haven, FL
- Destination
- PGD · Punta Gorda, FL
- Airport
- PGD · Punta Gorda Airport
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
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 10, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 922 total · 850 in this make and model · 4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- PGD
Docket · 8
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.