- Date
- June 13, 1996, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Levelland, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N17299Cessna 150L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960613013779A
- Case key
- 19862
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 student pilot's improper use of mixture control resulting in a loss of engine power. A factor was the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing.
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 was practicing steep turns in a practice area adjacent to an airport when the engine lost power. The pilot did not attempt a restart and executed a forced approach/landing to a field. The airplane came to rest inverted in the field (soft terrain). Examination of the cockpit area revealed that the mixture control was in a 'maximum lean setting.' Once the airplane was righted, the mixture was pushed in to a richer position, and the FAA inspector started, and ground tested the engine. The engine appeared to operate normally.
Factual narrative
On June 13, 1996, at 1730 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N17299, registered to and operated by Levelland Aviation, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Levelland, Texas. The student pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight.
The following paragraph is based on information provided by a FAA inspector and a NTSB interview with the operator. The pilot was practicing steep turns in a practice area adjacent to Levelland Municipal Airport when the engine lost power. The pilot did not attempt a restart and executed a forced approach/landing to a field. The airplane came to rest inverted in the field (soft terrain). Examination of the cockpit area revealed that the mixture control was in a "maximum lean setting." Once the airplane was righted, the mixture was pushed in to a richer position, and the FAA inspector started, and ground tested the engine. The engine appeared to operate normally.
Carburetor icing probability charts were examined with the local temperature and dew point conditions. According to the chart, carburetor icing was determined not to be a factor. Fueling records indicated there was ample fuel in the aircraft prior to the flight, and fuel was found in the tanks at the accident site.
Numerous attempts to obtain a completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Report) were unsuccessful. The last attempt (certified mail) was returned to the regional office undelivered, "box closed."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N17299
- Reported as
- Cessna 150L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15072712
- Airframe hours
- 8,300
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Steven C. Bernstein
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Q24
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
- 22
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 32 total · 31 in this make and model · 32 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LBB, 20 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 23, 1997, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 164 KB 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.