MIA99LA201

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150L · Ormond Beach, FL · July 24, 1999

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 24, 1999, 03:25 local (07:25 UTC)
Place
Ormond Beach, FL
Injuries
2 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N19222Cessna 150L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report November 30, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19990724009489A
Case key
46948

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

a loss of engine power due to a stuck exhaust valve which resulted in a forced landing, the subsequent impact with the ground, and nose over.

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.

Loss of engine powerManeuvering
Engine assembly,valve,exhaust - openCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
In flight collision with terrain/waterEmergency descent/landing
Terrain condition - ground
Nose overLanding - flare/touchdown

Analysis

At 0324, a 'MAYDAY' call was made by one of the two pilots. The flight had been flying for an unknown period of time, and was in the traffic pattern when the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot put the airplane down on a road adjacent to a mall about 1/2 mile southwest of the airport. The airplane impacted the ground and nosed over. Examination of the wreckage revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks. The engine examination revealed that the No. 2 exhaust valve was stuck in the open position which caused a loss of power. Further examination of the cylinder revealed no discrepancies were found in the valve stem, valve guide size, or part numbers. Neither crewmember gave their version of the accident or made any statements. The flight instructor suffered a head injury and could not remember the accident. The student pilot refused to speak with the investigators and returned to his home in England a few days after the accident.

Factual narrative

On July 24, 1999, about 0325 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N19222, registered to Ormond Beach Aviation Inc., was substantially damaged during a forced landing, near Ormond Beach, Florida. The commercial-rated pilot and dual student pilot reported serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed in the vicinity, and no flight plan had been filed. The local instructional flight was being conducted in accordance with Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had originated from the Ormond Beach Airport, at an unknown time.

The flight was conducted as an instructional flight for the purpose of giving the student a night check-out. At 0324, a "MAYDAY" call was made by one of the pilots to Daytona Airport. The flight had been flying in the traffic pattern at Ormond Beach, when the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot put the airplane down on a road adjacent to the Ormond Beach Mall about 1/2 mile southwest of the airport. The airplane impacted the ground and nosed over. Examination of the wreckage revealed that fuel was present in the fuel tanks.

The engine was examined under the supervision of the FAA at Ormond Beach Aviation's facility, Ormond Beach, Florida, on July 28, 1999. The examination revealed that the No. 2 exhaust valve was stuck in the open position. According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...the No. 2 exhaust valve was stuck open which led to a loss of power." Further examination of the cylinder revealed no discrepancies were found in the valve stem, valve guide size, or part numbers.

Toxicological tests were conducted on both pilots at the Federal Aviation Administration, Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and revealed, "No ethanol or drugs detected in Blood."

Neither crewmember gave their version of the accident or made any statements. The FAA inspector stated, "the flight instructor suffered a head injury and could not remember the accident. The student [pilot] refused to speak with the FAA and returned to England a few days after the accident."

Aircraft

Registration
N19222
Reported as
Cessna 150L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15074249
Airframe hours
12,878
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Ormond Beach Aviation Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · June 5, 1999 · 66 hours before
Departed
OMN
Airport
OMA · Ormond Beach

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
33
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
600 total · 320 in this make and model · 102 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
190° at 3 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 73 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
DAB, 5 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.