# NTSB FTW94LA067: Cessna 150D, N4558U, Mount Pleasant, TX, January 18, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 1994, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Mount Pleasant, TX - Coordinates: 33.159793, -94.969047 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1598&lon=-94.9690&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18989 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18989/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA067 ## Probable cause THE POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - fence ## Analysis DURING INITIAL CLIMB THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS A FEW MINUTES LATER. THE PILOT APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT FOLLOWING THE INITIAL LOSS OF POWER. A REVIEW OF THE ICING PROBABILITY CHART REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED IN A AREA CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. AFTER LANDING IT IMPACTED A BARBED WIRE FENCE AND NOSED OVER 1/2 MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 1994, at 0945 central standard time, a Cessna 150D, N4558U, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Mount Pleasant, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional solo cross country flight. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that the engine began to "cut in and out" during initial climb from Mount Pleasant Municipal Airport. He further reported that during his return for landing, the aircraft lost all engine power. Subsequently, he stated that the aircraft "clipped the top of a tree" and a barbed wire fence before coming to rest in the inverted position a half mile from the airport. The pilot further reported in his Pilot/Operator Report that he felt he experienced carburetor icing. He also stated that he did not apply carburetor heat until the engine initially lost power. A review of the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart revealed that the pilot was operating his aircraft in the area considered to be conducive to serious icing conditions. A detailed examination of the engine failed to disclose any physical irregularities that could have contributed to the power loss. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4558U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4558U-1996-02-03), registration cancelled 1996-02-03, S/N 15060558 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150D - Registry model: [Cessna 150D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150d) (registry code 2071810) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15060558 - Airframe hours: 6777 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Goggans, Danny - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 1994, 90 hours before - Destination: GVT, GREENVILLE, TX - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TXK, 100 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 19940118000569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940118000569A), Jan 18, 1994: Cessna 150D, Mount Pleasant, TX, Substantial damage. Rough engine on takeoff. Circled to land. Engine quit on final struck tree tops and fence landing. Carb icing high 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.