# NTSB MIA96LA159: Cessna 150M, N47ES, Knightdale, NC, June 17, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 17, 1996, 18:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Knightdale, NC - Coordinates: 35.78955, -78.48072 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7895&lon=-78.4807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38032 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA159 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38032/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA159 ## Probable cause failure of the flight instructor (CFI) to ensure proper use of the carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor ice, loss of engine power, and a subsequent emergency landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The flight instructor (CFI) informed the student pilot to descend power off from 3,000 feet to 2,500 feet. The carburetor heat was not activated by the student pilot or CFI. About 1 minute after the student pilot leveled off at 2,500 feet, the CFI initiated a simulated forced landing. The student pilot overshot the forced landing area, and the CFI took control of the airplane and increased power. The engine would not produce full power and quit. The CFI made a forced landing in a tobacco field, and the airplane nosed over on touchdown. An examination of the engine was made, but no preimpact mechanical failure was found. The reported temperature and dew point were 86 and 70 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions at glide power were conducive to serious carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 1996, about 1850 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N47ES, registered to ISO Aero Service Inc., operated by Raleigh East Aviation, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a total loss of engine power while performing a simulated engine failure. A forced landing was made to a tobacco field, and the airplane nosed over on touchdown. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The certified flight instructor and student pilot reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Raleigh East Airport about 30 minutes before the accident. The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated he informed the student pilot to start a power off descending glide from 3,000 feet to 2,500 feet. The student pilot did not turn the carburetor heat on. The student pilot leveled off at 2,500 feet. The CFI gave the student pilot a simulated engine failure. The student pilot performed his emergency procedures, assumed the best rate of glide airspeed, turned towards his forced landing area, and over shot the forced landing area. The CFI took control of the airplane and increased power. The engine would not produce full power and quit. The CFI made a forced landing to the tobacco field, and the airplane nosed over on touchdown. Examination of the engine assembly and accessories was conducted by the head mechanic of ISO Aero Service Inc., in the presence of the FAA and Raleigh East Aviation personnel. No evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction of the engine was found. Review of the probability carburetor icing chart revealed that the engine would encounter serious icing at glide power based on the weather conditions at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47ES](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N47ES-1996-12-11), registration cancelled 1996-12-11, S/N 15078449 (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: 15078449 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Raleigh East Aviation - Registered owner: Iso Aero Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: W-17 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 423 total, 4 in this make and model, 334 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RDU, 17 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 19960617014189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960617014189A), Jun 17, 1996: Cessna 150M, Wilson, NC, Substantial damage. Practicing emergency landing, engine would not respond. Flipped over while landing in a field. 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.