# NTSB NYC96LA066: Cessna 150H, N6964S, Linden, NJ, February 26, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 1996, 10:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Linden, NJ - Location: 40.6273° N, 74.2363° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Linden, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6273&lon=-74.2363&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report June 22, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39153 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39153/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA066 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to follow the checklist to ensure that the fuel selector valve was in the ON position, which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power. In addition, the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during the forced landing which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing after takeoff - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis After takeoff, at about 200 feet, the engine lost power. Witnesses observed the airplane turn to the left about 180 degrees and nose into the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector was in the OFF position, and no fuel was found in the fuel lines going from the fuel selector to the engine. Fuel was found in the wing fuel tanks. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 1996, about 1010 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150H, N6964S, registered to Linden Air Services Inc., Linden, New Jersey, collided with the ground during a forced landing near, Linden, New Jersey, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, the commercial pilot and one passenger were seriously injured. The local, aerial observation flight had departed about 1000. The flight had taken off from runway 32, and had reached an altitude of about 200 feet, when the engine lost power. The pilot stated: ...the aircraft was producing full power on takeoff roll. [The] aircraft was rotated at 55 knots...climbout was normal...[at] approximately 200 feet...I began to see the airspeed decrease. The aircraft began to sink so I rechecked full power, carburetor heat off, mixture rich...the aircraft continued to sink and lose airspeed...[I] decided it would be safer to turn to the runway...I figured I turned 90 degrees...the airplane must have stalled and then crashed. Witnesses observed the airplane turn to the left about 180 degrees and nose into the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel selector was in the "off" position, and no fuel was found in the fuel lines going from the fuel selector to the engine. Fuel was found in the wing fuel tanks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6964S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6964S-2008-12-12), registration cancelled 2008-12-12, S/N 15067664, 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: 15067664 - Airframe hours: 8510 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Linden Air Services - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 1995, 100 hours before - Departed: LDJ - Destination: LDJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 351 total, 50 in this make and model, 310 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 19 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: EWR, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960226002739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960226002739A), Feb 26, 1996: Cessna 150H, Linden, NJ, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. Stalled turning back. Had departed with fuel selector in off position. 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.