- Date
- December 6, 1995, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Orange Springs, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N60758Cessna 150J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951206040089A
- Case key
- 37956
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 pilot's improper use of carburetor heat resulting in engine failure due to carburetor ice.
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 reduced engine power on the downwind leg of the landing approach. When on base leg he advanced the throttle to clear the engine and the engine quit. Attempts to restart were unsuccessful and the aircraft landed in an area of high vegetation short of the runway. After the accident the engine was started and operated to full power with no evidence of failure or malfunction. The pilot did not remember when he applied carburetor heat during the approach. According to carburetor icing probability chart the aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power.
Factual narrative
On December 6, 1995, about 1000 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150J, N60758, registered to a private owner, crashed following loss of engine power at the 85th Avenue Airpark, Orange Springs, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Orange Springs, about 0845.
The pilot stated he reduced engine power while abeam the arrival end of the runway on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. When he turned based leg he advanced the throttle to clear the engine. The engine quit. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful. The aircraft contacted the ground about 100 yards short of the runway and collided with small trees and brush. The pilot stated he does not remember when he applied carburetor heat during the approach to land. A mechanic found the carburetor heat on after the accident.
Postcrash examination of the engine was performed by a mechanic. All fuel lines were unobstructed and contained uncontaminated fuel. The air inlet was unobstructed. The engine was started and operated to full power with no evidence of failure or malfunction. The carburetor heat system operated normally.
According to carburetor icing probability curves the aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N60758
- Reported as
- Cessna 150J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15070553
- Airframe hours
- 4,850
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jon Allen Cockes
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 18, 1995 · 29 hours before
- Departed
- X60 · Williston, FL
- Airport
- FD02 · 85th Avenue Airstrip, runway 33, 3,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf
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
- 68
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,691 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 1,691 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GNV, 18 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.
Other investigations on N60758 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.