# NTSB MIA91FA017: Cessna 150G, N3220J, Marathon, FL, October 30, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 1990, 08:05 local (13:05 UTC) - Place: Marathon, FL - Coordinates: 24.710432, -81.079986 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.7104&lon=-81.0800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 10, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 32735 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91FA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32735/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91FA017 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE CENTER ROCKER BOSS ON THE #3 CYLINDER WAS A RELATED FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - engine assembly,cylinder - fatigue (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis WHILE ON A X-WIND AFTER A TOUGH-&-GO LNDG, A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENG POWER OCCURRED. THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TOOK CTL & MNVRD THE ACFT TO LAND. THE ACFT WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE RWY, SO THE CFI ELECTED TO LAND IN A GRASS AREA. HE STATED THAT WHILE DSCNDG THRU ABOUT 100' AGL, 'THE YOKE FELL BACKWARD' INTO HIS LAP. HE BELIEVED THAT THE ELEVATOR CABLE HAD FAILED, WHICH ALLOWED THE ACFT TO CRASH. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, A STEEP TURN WAS MADE IN AN ATMT TO ALIGN THE ACFT FOR LANDING; THEN THE ACFT LEVELED OFF AT ABOUT 30' AGL & WAS AT A SLOW SPEED. THE ACFT THEN ENTERED A STEEP DSCNT & CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND WITH THE FLT CTL SYS. A METALLURGICAL EXAM SHOWED THAT THE ELEVATOR UP CABLE HAD FAILED UNDER A TENSILE LOAD WHILE BEING BENT AROUND AN EDGE OR CORNER. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE CENTER ROCKER BOSS ON THE #3 CYLINDER HAD FAILED IN FATIGUE. THE FATIGUE HAD ORIGINATED WHERE NUMBERS WERE EMBOSSED INTO THE BOSS DRG MANUFACTURE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3220J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3220J-1991-01-17), registration cancelled 1991-01-17, S/N 15065920 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15065920 - Airframe hours: 4922 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Blue Max, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 30, 1990, 57 hours before - Airport: MTH, Marathon, runway 7, 5,008 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 320 total, 23 in this make and model, 209 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MTH ## 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 19901030047409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901030047409A), Oct 30, 1990: Cessna 150G, Marathon, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine failed. Over banked trying to align with runway on forced landing. NR3 rocker arm bosses failed. ## Other investigations on N3220J (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA89LA246](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA246), Sep 12, 1989: Cessna 150G (N3220J), Marathon, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE PARKED AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SUNGLARE AND THE LOCATION OF THE PARKED 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.