# NTSB NYC95LA077: Cessna 150J, N60949, Slatington, PA, March 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 19, 1995, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Slatington, PA - Coordinates: 40.749843, -75.60984 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7498&lon=-75.6098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA077 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38935/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA077 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of carburetor heat which resulted in carburetor icing and a subsequent loss of engine power. A factor is carburetor icing conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - Nose over, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED DURING THE TAKEOFF THERE WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE PORPOISED AND OVERRAN THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR STRUCK A LOG AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR'S POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT AT ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, 12 MILES SOUTHEAST WERE REPORTED TO BE 44 DEGREES F AND 36 DEGREES F RESPECTIVELY AT 0845. ADDITIONALLY, AT 0945, THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 48 DEGREES F AND 34 DEGREES F. ACCORDING TO A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART, BOTH SETS OF CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE FOR SERIOUS ICING AT CRUISE OR CLIMB POWER. ## Factual narrative On, March 19, 1995 about 0915 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150J, N60949, operated by Lehigh Valley Aviation and piloted by Jon E. Goodman, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at Slatington Airport, Slatington, Pennsylvania. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the intended local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2 the pilot reported, there was a light wind from the south and he departed runway 19. The pilot further stated: ...Normal build up of speed, became slightly hesitant around takeoff speed (60 MPH). 3/4 down the runway, engine RPM dropped, airspeed quickly dropped below 50 MPH. This is when I decided to abort. At most the airplane was 1 to 5 feet off the ground. In a telephone interview the pilot added, during the aborted takeoff the airplane porpoised on the runway. He reduced the power to idle, and applied brakes. The airplane overran the runway. The nose gear struck a log, and the airplane nosed over. According to the Airport Facility Directory, runway 19 is 2520 feet long with obstacles at both ends. The first 1950 feet is asphalt, and the remaining 570 is turf. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's statement, no malfunctions were detected in the engine or airframe. The statement further stated: ...The gascolator still had clean fuel in it and the fuel lines were still intact to the carburetor, which still had fuel....The air filter was [checked] for obstructions, and none were found....The top spark plugs were removed and all four cylinders [had] compression. The spark plugs [had] no deposits or fouling....The impulse coupling sounded normal when the propeller was rotated. The temperature and dew point at Allentown, Pennsylvania, 12 miles southeast of the accident scene were reported to be 44 degrees F and 36 degrees F respectively at 0845. Additionally, at 0945, the temperature and dew point were 48 degrees F and 34 degrees F. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, both sets of conditions were conducive for serious icing at cruise or climb power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60949](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60949-1997-03-25), registration cancelled 1997-03-25, S/N 15070689 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070689 - Airframe hours: 4146 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lehigh Valley Aviation - Registered owner: Jones, William J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 1995, 4 hours before - Airport: 69N, Slatington, runway 19, 2,520 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 75 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABE, 12 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 19950319004399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950319004399A), Mar 19, 1995: Cessna 150J, Slatington, PA, Substantial damage. Lost RPM on liftoff. Aborted late. Overran runway. Gear hit a log. Nosed over. Serious carburetor icing existed. 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.