- Date
- September 21, 1997, 10:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place
- Easton, NY
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6865GCessna 150L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 30, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970921047639A
- Case key
- 39435
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
mechanical binding of the number three exhaust valve, and the pilot/owner's improper planning/decision by failing to ensure the engine was operating properly before takeoff. A related factor was: the pilot/owner's failure to ensure that annual maintenance was performed.
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
A witness reported, the airplane's engine ran 'real rough' when started, and the pilot waited 30 to 45 minutes to warm the engine before departing. During the initial takeoff climb, the airplane's engine lost power. Unable to climb, the pilot attempted to perform an emergency landing, and the airplane struck trees. Examination of the airplane's engine revealed that the number three cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the open position. The airplane had flown about 35 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed on 7/13/94.
Factual narrative
On September 21, 1997, about 1050 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N6865G, was substantially damaged when it impacted tress during the initial takeoff climb from Garnsey Field, Easton, New York. The certificated commercial pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In a written statement, the pilot said after performing a preflight inspection, he started the airplane and taxied to the south end of the runway to perform his run-up procedures. He further stated:
"...The take-off RPM was around 2500, until I was about 500 feet past the end of the runway and climbing. The power dropped back to 2000 RPM with substantial vibration. I was unable to climb...I was unable to avoid the tops of trees in front of field for emergency landing."
A friend of the pilot who witnessed the accident, stated:
"...[I] waited for him to warm up the engine. It ran real rough at first....He warmed it up for 30 to 45 minutes...He said he was going to taxi to the other end of the runway and if it sounded OK he would takeoff. He took off North and did not seem to be gaining altitude and banked to the right and the next thing we heard was the crunch of hitting trees..."
Examination of the airplane's engine by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the number three cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the open position.
A review of the airplane's log book by the FAA Inspector revealed the airplane had flown about 35 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed on July 13, 1994.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6865G
- Reported as
- Cessna 150L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15072365
- Airframe hours
- 2,440
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David C. Williams
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 13, 1994 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- B04 · NY
- Airport
- B04 · Garnseys, runway 2, 2,600 × 90 ft, grass/turf
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 574 total · 540 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ALB, 22 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.