- Date
- June 25, 1991, 11:11 local (18:11 UTC)
- Place
- Dana Point, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3674VCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910625023889A
- Case key
- 27262
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 seizure of the no. 1 cylinder's exhaust valve in its guide and the related fracturing of the rocker arm; and the pilot's operation of the aircraft with known deficiencies.
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
While cruising near a beach the airplane's engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing off shore. Upon touching down in shallow water the airplane nosed over. The examination of the engine revealed that its no.1 cylinder's exhaust valve had probably become stuck in its guide, & ultimately the rocker arm broke. Further investigation revealed that two days before the accident the pilot had experienced a power loss & when the engine was examined the same stuck valve was found. The mechanic who freed up the valve had cautioned the pilot that, although he was successful in freeing up the valve, the engine was in need of an overhaul & the valve could become stuck, at any time, during future flights. The engine had been operated for about 1857 hours since its last major overhaul.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3674V
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15076584
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pegasas Flight Center, Inc.
- Destination
- FUL · Fullerton, CA
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
- 19
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 344 total · 55 in this make and model · 242 as pilot in command · 39 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.