# NTSB LAX03LA044: Cessna 150H, N50346, Twentynine Palm, CA, December 3, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 2002, 19:30 local (Dec 3, 2002, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Twentynine Palm, CA - Coordinates: 34.132221, -115.945831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1322&lon=-115.9458&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56162 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56162/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA044 ## Probable cause The improper use of carburetor heat, and the instructor's inadequate supervision which resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - light condition - night - carburetor heat - improper use of, flightcrew (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The airplane experienced a loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb and impacted terrain during a forced landing. After completing two uneventful landings, the student pilot input full throttle and began the third takeoff of the day. Over halfway down the runway, about 75 feet above ground level, the student told the CFI that he did not think the engine was developing full power. The CFI took over the controls and confirmed that the partial power condition. While attempting a soft field landing, the nose landing gear impacted a bush and the airplane nosed over. Temperatures were obtained from a weather reporting station located 14 miles west-northwest of the airport. At 1855, the temperature was 52 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 32 degrees Fahrenheit. At 2000, the temperature was 48 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures and dew points were applied to an industry standard Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, and both were within the "serious icing at glide power" portion of the chart. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 2002, at 1930 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 150H, N50346, experienced a loss of engine power and collided with terrain during a forced landing near Twentynine Palms, California. A private individual was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Neither the certified flight instructor (CFI) nor the student pilot was injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The local instructional flight originated at Twentynine Palms Airport about 1900. In a written statement, the CFI stated that the purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to perform practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings on runway 26. After completing two uneventful landings, the student pilot input full throttle and began the third takeoff. Over halfway down the runway, about 75 feet above ground level, the student told the CFI that he did not think the engine was developing full power. The CFI took over the controls and confirmed the partial power condition. He attempted to maintain altitude by pitching for best rate of climb, and began a shallow turn to the left in an effort to avoid power lines that he knew were in close proximity. As he realized that the airplane was not able to sustain lift, the CFI configured the airplane for a soft field landing. With the airplane approaching an airport fence, the CFI touched down. The nose landing gear impacted a bush and the airplane nosed over. Temperatures were obtained from MCAS Twentynine Palms, located 14 miles west-northwest from the Twentynine Palms Airport. At 1855, the temperature was 52 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 32 degrees Fahrenheit. At 2000, the temperature was 48 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures were applied to an industry Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, and both recorded temperatures were within the "serious icing at glide power" portion of the chart. ## Aircraft - Registration: N50346 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15069243 - Airframe hours: 5800 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Karl Hoyer - Registered owner: J.L Karr Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2002, 24 hours before - Departed: TNP, Twentynine Palm, CA - Destination: TNP - Airport: TNP, Twentynine Palms Airport, runway 26, 5,531 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 4, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 2,383 total, 133 in this make and model, 2,271 as pilot in command, 143 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 290° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KNXP, 15 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 20021202032919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021202032919A), Dec 2, 2002: Cessna 150H, Twentyninepalm, CA, Substantial damage. (.19) On December 2, 2002, at 1950 pacific standard time, a Cessna 150H, N50346, experienced a loss of engine power and collided with ground obstacles during a… 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.