# NTSB LAX00LA296: Cessna 150, N6500T, Carlsbad, CA, August 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 2000, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Carlsbad, CA - Coordinates: 33.129405, -117.300231 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1294&lon=-117.3002&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49974 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA296 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49974/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA296 ## Probable cause A catastrophic internal engine failure for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water - Ditching, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The aircraft ditched in the Pacific ocean about 20 miles west of Carlsbad, California, following a loss of engine power while on fish spotting operations. The airplane sank and is presumed to be destroyed. The pilot said that about 40 miles offshore the engine rpm's began a slow decay accompanied by a loss of oil pressure and an increase in oil temperature. The pilot reversed course and headed toward Carlsbad, the closest airport. About 20 miles out from shore the engine lost all power with a loud bang and the pilot ditched the airplane at 33 degrees 10 minutes north latitude by 117 degrees 45 minutes west longitude. A passing fishing boat picked up the pilot. The pilot was unable to reconstruct the maintenance history of the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2000, about 1130 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150, N6500T, ditched in the Pacific ocean about 20 miles west of Carlsbad, California, following a loss of engine power. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot for fish spotting operations under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The airplane sank and is presumed to be destroyed. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. While visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the aircraft's cruise altitude, instrument conditions consisting of low stratus clouds existed at the site of the ditching. The flight originated from the Gillespie Field airport, San Diego, California, at 1100 on the day of the accident and was en route to a fishing area offshore. In his written report, the pilot said that about 40 miles offshore the engine rpm's began a slow decay accompanied by a loss of oil pressure and an increase in oil temperature. The pilot reversed course and headed toward Carlsbad, the closest airport. About 20 miles out from shore the engine lost all power with a loud bang and the pilot ditched the airplane at 33 degrees 10 minutes north latitude by 117 degrees 45 minutes west longitude. A passing fishing boat picked up the pilot. The pilot was unable to reconstruct the maintenance history of the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6500T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6500T-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N 17900, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17900 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald L. Martin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SEE, SAN DIEGO, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; flight engineer, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19,094 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 17,512 as pilot in command, 204 in the last 90 days, 172 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 167 °F, dew point 153 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CRQ, 28 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 20000812040699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000812040699A), Aug 12, 2000: Cessna 150, Carlsbad, CA, Destroyed. (.4) On August 12, 2000, about 1130 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150, N6500T, ditched in the pacific ocean about 20 miles west of Carlsbad,… 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.