IAD96LA060

The pilot indicated that shortly after takeoff, as the airplane climbed through about 400 feet agl, the engine lost power completely. The pilot turned back to the airport, and received ATC clearance to return to land on the departure runway. Because the airplane was losing altitude, and he did not believe he would be able to reach the departure runway, the pilot requested clearance to land in the opposite direction on the departure runway. ATC denied the request, citing conflicting traffic, so the pilot attempted to land on a grassy area on the airport. The airplane touched down and continued down an embankment, then nosed over. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of engine power.

On April 12, 1996, at about 1123 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N16188, piloted by the registered owner, collided with terrain during a forced landing when the engine lost power during the takeoff/initial climb at Akron-Canton Regional Airport, in Akron, Ohio. The commercial pilot and the one passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The local flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Akron, Ohio, approximately 1120 eastern daylight time.

According to the pilot, everything about the airplane appeared normal during his preflight inspection, the engine start and engine run-up. He reported that he departed on runway 23, and when the airplane reached an altitude of about 400 feet mean sea level (msl) he began a right turn to a heading of 260 degrees, as requested by the Akron-Canton air traffic control (ATC) personnel. The pilot indicated that as he began the turn, the engine "...lost power all of a sudden."

When he noted the power loss, the pilot made a left turn to return to the airport, and advised ATC of the problem. ATC instructed the pilot to enter the downwind leg for runway 23, but the pilot did not feel that the airplane had sufficient altitude to make it back to runway 23. He requested permission to land on runway 5, which ATC denied, citing conflicting traffic. The pilot indicated that the airplane was losing altitude, so he decided to land on a grassy field located east of the airport terminal building. ATC subsequently cleared the pilot to land on any runway, but the pilot was "...past the point of no return..." and continued the forced landing on the grassy field. The airplane touched down, crossed a parking lot access road, and continued down an embankment before it nosed over on the grass.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction which would result in a complete loss of engine power. FAA Inspector's statements are appended.