# NTSB MIA87FA157: Cessna 150M, N202CR, San Juan, PR, May 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 6, 1987, 10:40 local (14:40 UTC)
- Place: San Juan, PR
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31762
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87FA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31762/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA157

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - water,glassy

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED HIS RUN UP CHECK WITH 'NORMAL RESULTS.' TEN DEGREES OF FLAPS WERE SET FOR A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF, & DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, 'THE AIRCRAFT RAN NORMAL.' AT APRX 55 MPH 'THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE GROUND AND IMMEDIATELY IT SETTLED DOWN & FINALLY GOT AIRBORNE'. HE THEN MAINTAINED 55 TO 60 MPH & AT APPROX 150 FT. 'THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT WANT TO CLIMB ANY FURTHER'. HE THEN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE, MIXTURE AND CARBURETOR HEAT WERE FULL IN AND HE LOOKED AT THE ENGINE GAUGES AND THE NEEDLE WAS 2000 TO 2100 RPM, 'WITH SLIGHT FLUCTUATIONS BETWEEN THESE NUMBERS', HE THEN CHECKED THE MAGS, BOTH TO LEFT AND RIGHT BUT NO IMPROVEMENT WAS OBTAINED SO HE SWITCHED IT BACK TO BOTH. HE THEN HELD AN AIRSPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO TRY TO DITCH IT IN THE LAGOON. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO THE NATURE OF THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION AS DESCRIBED BY THE PILOT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N202CR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N202CR-1991-05-06), registration cancelled 1991-05-06, S/N 15078970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078970
- Airframe hours: 5876
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Isla Graude Flying School
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 10, 1987, 8 hours before
- Departed: SIG, SAN JUAN, PR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 11 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SJU, 6 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 19870506012339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870506012339A), May 6, 1987: Cessna 150M, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Destroyed. The engine lost power on downwind takeoff. The aircraft hit a bridge and a car. Cause of malfunction undetermined.

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.

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