# NTSB LAX01LA273: Cessna 150L, N6688G, Fullerton, CA, August 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 2001, 18:51 local (Aug 8, 2001, 01:51 UTC) - Place: Fullerton, CA - Coordinates: 33.871944, -117.979721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8719&lon=-117.9797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52987 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52987/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA273 ## Probable cause loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - fuel system,carburetor - contamination (cause) - fuel system,tank - contamination (cause) - fuel system,filter - contamination (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with trees during a forced landing to a city street following a loss of engine power during an approach to land. The engine began to run rough and lost power passing through 2,000 feet as the airplane approached the airport. The pilot started the engine, but it continued to run rough, and then stopped producing power again. He didn't think he could glide to a school yard so he elected to land on the city street and the wing collided with a tree. A white, sandy substance was discovered in the carburetor bowl. A ball of fibrous contamination was found in the inlet screen which blocked approximately 15 percent of the screen. Also, water and a white substance were discovered in the bottom of the fuel strainer. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 2001, at 1851 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N6688G, made a forced landing on a city street following a loss of engine power on approach to the airport at Fullerton, California. The airplane was substantially damaged during the landing roll when it collided with trees. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and sustained minor injuries. The personal cross-country flight departed from Meadows Field, Bakersfield, California, about 1520. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator interviewed the pilot. The pilot said that he added 8 gallons of fuel in Bakersfield. The engine began to run rough and lost power passing through 2,000 feet as the airplane approached Fullerton. The pilot started the engine, but it continued to run rough, and stopped producing power again. He didn't think he could glide to a school yard so he elected to land on the city street and the wing collided with a tree. The pilot drained about 8 gallons of fuel from the wings following the accident. The FAA accident coordinator inspected the airplane. He removed a plug on the bottom of the carburetor and drained about 1 ounce of fuel. He observed water and a white substance in the fuel strainer. The carburetor was examined at Precision Airmotive Corporation under the surveillance of an NTSB investigator. There was a white, sandy substance in the carburetor bowl, and a ball of fibrous contamination in the inlet screen that blocked approximately 15 percent of the screen. Repeated requests were made to the pilot to complete NTSB Form 6120.1/2, but no response was received. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6688G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6688G-2012-09-10), registration cancelled 2012-09-10, S/N 15072188, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15072188 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brian K. Gerdes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA - Destination: FUL, Fullerton, CA - Airport: FUL, Fullerton Municipal, runway 24, 3,121 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: FUL, 1 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 20010808022349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010808022349A), Aug 8, 2001: Cessna 150L, Fullerton, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) After experiencing power loss, subject aircraft made a forced landing on a residential street, one mile north of Fullerton airport. Substantial aircraft… 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.