- Date
- May 5, 2001, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Osceola Mills, PA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N51104Cessna 150J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 28, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20010505010149A
- Case key
- 52206
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
A partial power loss due to a stuck exhaust valve in the # 2 cylinder, which resulted in a forced landing. A factor was the rising terrain.
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 was on a local personal flight when the engine began to run rough. He was unable to correct the roughness with the mixture or the use of carburetor heat. He performed a forced landing in a field with rising terrain. The nose wheel dug in and the airplane nosed over. Subsequent examination of the engine found the # 2 exhaust valve stuck open.
Factual narrative
On May 5, 2001, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N51104, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot had departed Sankey Airport, Osceola Mills, about 1 1/2 hours earlier. He had been cruising about 6,500 feet, with the mixture leaned, and was returning to the airport. As he neared the airport, he retarded the power, placed the mixture control in the rich position, and initiated a descent. As the airplane descended through 3,000 feet, the engine began to run rough. The pilot added carburetor heat; however, the roughness continued.
The pilot performed a forced landing in an open field with rolling terrain. The airplane touched down on rising terrain, and the nosewheel dug into the ground. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Both wings and the fuselage were wrinkled.
The FAA inspectors also reported their examination of the airplane revealed fuel in the tanks, in the fuel line leading to the carburetor, and in the carburetor. The lower spark plugs on the right side of the engine were sooty in appearance. Witnesses reported the engine was sputtering as the airplane descended, and black smoke was observed coming from the engine exhaust.
Further, in a written report, they stated:
"On May 22, 2001, the continued investigation of N51104's engine problems revealed; Cylinders # 1 & 3 top spark plugs and cylinder # 4 top and bottom plugs to have a black sooty appearance; cylinder # 2 top and bottom spark plugs were covered with oil. The exhaust valve in cylinder # 2 was found stuck in the open position, all other valves opened and closed when the engine was rotated. All push rods and rocker arms moved normally when the engine was rotated...."
The pilot had not received a flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N51104
- Reported as
- Cessna 150J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15069768
- Airframe hours
- 3,543.98
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Charles F. Nearhoff
- Registered owner
- Town Hill Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 30, 2000 · 19 hours before
- Departed
- 1PS4 · Osceola Mills, PA
- Destination
- 1PS4 · Osceola Mills, PA
- Airport
- 1PS4 · Sankey Airport
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
- 39
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 316 total · 213 in this make and model · 245 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.34 inHg
- Observed at
- FIG, 10 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 N51104 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.