- Date
- August 2, 1995, 17:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place
- Holly Springs, MS
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1774QCessna 150L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950802021639A
- Case key
- 37805
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 failure of the pilot-in-command to insure the oil dip stick was secure prior to departure resulting in loss of engine oil, overheating of the engine, and loss of engine power.
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
The pilot reported the engine lost power while climbing shortly after a touch and go landing. A forced landing was made in a wooded area. Post crash examination showed the oil dip stick was lying loose in the engine compartment and the engine contained no oil. No evidence of post crash oil leakage was found. Examination of the engine showed the exhaust pipes had been heated excessively and the nos. 2 and 3 cylinder valves were held open due to excessive carbon buildup.
Factual narrative
On August 2, 1995, about 1740 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N1774Q, registered to a private individual, and operated by Memphis East Aviation, Inc., lost engine power and made a forced landing in a wooded area at Holly Springs, Mississippi, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the student pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Arlington, Tennessee, on August 2, 1995, about 1700.
The pilot stated he flew from Arlington to Holly Springs, Mississippi, where he performed a touch-and-go landing, and planned to return to Arlington. During climbout from the touch-go-landing, upon reaching an altitude of 150 feet, the engine lost power. He made a forced landing in a wooded area.
Postcrash examination of the aircraft and engine by an FAA inspector and representatives of the operator showed the oil dip stick was lying loose in the engine compartment. No oil was present in the engine and no evidence of postcrash oil leakage was found. The exhaust stacks showed evidence of having been excessively heated. The Nos. 2 and 3 cylinder valves were being held open by excessive carbon build up, causing low cylinder compression.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1774Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 150L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15073074
- Airframe hours
- 3,082
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Memphis East Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Milton D. Morton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 28, 1995 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- LHC · Arlington, TN
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 79 total · 48 in this make and model · 54 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MEM, 16 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.