# NTSB MIA97LA033: Cessna 150H, N6532S, Homerville, GA, December 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 1996, 20:25 local (Dec 3, 1996, 01:25 UTC) - Place: Homerville, GA - Coordinates: 31.030046, -82.750656 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0300&lon=-82.7507&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38184 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38184/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA033 ## Probable cause carburetor ice, due to the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, which resulted in a forced landing and impact with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, descent - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane's engine lost complete power, and the pilot requested radar vectors to the nearest airport. While on short final, the airplane struck trees, turned 180 opposite the direction of travel, and impacted the ground. The pilot stated that just after establishing radar contact with ATC, the airplane 'experienced [a] power failure.' The engine then surged momentarily for about 30 seconds, then stopped. The pilot did not try to restart the engine again. He performed a forced landing, but was not able to reach the airport due to head winds. The airplane had begun a descent from 6,000 feet, shortly before the engine failed. The carburetor heat control was found in the 'cold' position, and the fuel selector was 'on.' Fuel was found in both fuel tanks. The airplane's engine was examined, started, and ran without any discrepancies noted. About 31 miles west-southwest at Valdosta, Ga, the temperature and dew point at 1955 EST were 46 and 41 degrees, respectively. According to icing probability charts, conditions at Valdosta were conducive for carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 1996, about 2025 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150H, N6532S, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, personal flight, crashed during a forced landing near Homerville, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damage. The airline transport pilot, and one passenger were not injured. The airplane's engine lost complete power, and the pilot requested radar vectors to the nearest airport. The pilot was vectored to Homerville, and while on short final, the airplane struck trees, turned 180 opposite the direction of travel, and impacted the ground. The pilot stated that just after establishing radar contact with ATC, the airplane "experienced [a] power failure." The engine then surged momentarily, for about 30 seconds then stopped. The pilot did not try to restart the engine again, and performed a forced landing, but was not able to reach the airport because of the head winds. According to the FAA inspector's statement, the airplane had begun a descent from 6,000 feet, shortly before the engine failed. The carburetor heat control was found in the "cold" position, and the fuel selector was "on." Both fuel tanks, and the gascolator sump drain, "contained fuel." The airplane's engine was examined, started and ran without any discrepancies noted. The FAA inspector wrote in his statement that based on the engine run the cause of the loss of engine power "could not be determined." He further stated "the possibility of carburetor icing does exist." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6532S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6532S-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 15067332, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15067332 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ruth Holmes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DYB, SUMMERVILLE, SC - Destination: VLD, VALDOSTA, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 48,000 total, 80 in this make and model, 46,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 225° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19961203037029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961203037029A), Dec 3, 1996: Cessna 150H, Homerville, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft reported fuel problems and crashed. 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.