# NTSB NYC94LA125: Cessna 150J, N60426, Coatsville, PA, July 12, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 1994, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Coatsville, PA - Coordinates: 39.979393, -75.809303 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9794&lon=-75.8093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38790 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38790/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA125 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate use of carburetor hear. A factor was carburetor icing conditions and soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice - carburetor heat - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2000 FT MSL WHEN THE PILOT NOTICED A GRADUAL DROP IN ENGINE RPM. HE ADDED CARBURETOR HEAT; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE AND HE SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING. DURING ROLLOUT, TO PREVENT FROM GOING ONTO A ROAD WHERE VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING, THE PILOT APPLIED HEAVY BRAKING. THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO AN FAA PUBLISHED CARBURETOR ICING CHART, THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT, RESPECTIVELY 87 AND 65 DEGREES F, WERE WITHIN THE RANGE FOR CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 1994, at 1920 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N60426, owned and operated by Chester County Aviation, of Coatsville, Pennsylvania, experienced a power loss, and the pilot made an off airport landing near Coatsville. The airplane received substantial damage and the occupants were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot reported a gradual loss of RPM while in cruise flight, which could not be recovered with the use of carburetor heat. He set up for a forced landing in a field. After touchdown, as the airplane approached a road with vehicles on it, the pilot applied hard braking. The nose wheel dug into the soft terrain and the airplane nosed over. The FAA reported that on July 20, 1994, "...engine run up was completed...Engine started right up, run up went well, no indication of fuel contamination." At Philadelphia International Airport, which was 32 miles south east of the accident site, the temperature and dewpoint were 87 F and 65 F respectively, at 1850, and 86 F and 65 F respectively, at 1950. According to the carburetor icing chart probability chart, the airplane was operating in a range of "Serious Icing At Glide Power." The private pilot reported he had 266 hours total time and 250 hours in the Cessna 150. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60426](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60426-2009-11-09), registration cancelled 2009-11-09, S/N 15070298, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070298 - Airframe hours: 2223 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Chester County Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 1994, 61 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 266 total, 250 in this make and model, 81 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 9 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PHL, 32 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 19940712018389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940712018389A), Jul 12, 1994: Cessna 150J, Coatsville, PA, Substantial damage. Lost power en route. Used carb heat no help. Overran open field. Hard braking avoid highway. Nosed over. Carb icing 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.