# NTSB NYC97LA192: Cessna 150G, N4748X, Forest, VA, September 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1997, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Forest, VA - Coordinates: 37.369258, -79.269508 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3693&lon=-79.2695&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39440 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39440/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA192 ## Probable cause the pilot's movement of the mixture control to the idle cut-off position, during an approach to land, which resulted in a loss of engine power and a forced landing before reaching the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - roadway/highway - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The student pilot said he performed his pre-landing check and reduced power to 1,500 RPM for an approach. The initial approach angle was steep, so he 'cut' engine power and slipped the airplane to increase his rate of descent. When he turned final, his approach angle was too shallow. He tried to apply power, but received no response; the engine continued to run at idle rpm. The student stated the airplane was at approximately 50 feet on final approach, when the propeller stopped turning. He attempted to maneuver through an area of low obstacles, which included 5 to 6 foot high tree stumps, and cross a road to a grass area on the airport. On short final, the airplane struck a tree stump, the road, a ditch, and nosed over. Examination of the cockpit revealed the throttle and carburetor heat controls were full forward, the mixture control was pulled out. The airplane was recovered to a hanger, and the engine was started. According to the owner, the engine ran 'perfect.' ## Factual narrative On September 24, 1997, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N4748X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the New London Airport (W90), Forest, Virginia. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight that originated from W90, at 1800. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the student pilot (SP) reported he was flying an extended downwind leg to land on runway 16, at W90. He said he performed his pre-landing check and reduced power to 1,500 RPM for the approach. The initial approach angle was steep, so he "cut" engine power and slipped the airplane to increase his rate of descent. When he turned final, his approach angle was too shallow. He applied power and received no response; the engine continued to run at idle power. The SP stated the airplane was at approximately 50 feet on final approach when the propeller stopped turning. He attempted to maneuver through an area of low obstacles, which included 5 to 6 foot high tree stumps, and cross a road to a grass area on the airport. The pilot stated: "Approximately 10 feet above the ground, I thought I'd make the grass. I started my flare and I think I might have hit a stump. It jerked the whole airplane nose down. I hit all three gear on the road, but hit so hard, the nose gear broke off. The airplane slid across the road, struck the ditch, and nosed over." A witness reported in a telephone interview that he went to the airplane to render assistance. He also said, "The airplane clipped off two dead trees and a barbed wire fence...I got in the airplane and the throttle was in, the mixture was out, and the carburetor heat was off." In a telephone interview, the airplane owner said he recovered the airplane to a hanger and attempted to start the engine. He stated, "I started the airplane and it ran like a top. Perfect." The student pilot reported that he had started flying lessons on two occasions beginning in 1989, accrued approximately 10 hours of flight time, and then stopped. He began lessons again in August, 1997, and accrued approximately 8 hours of flight time prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4748X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4748X-1997-12-22), registration cancelled 1997-12-22, S/N 15064798 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064798 - Airframe hours: 4748 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rucker A. Tibbs - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 1997, 45 hours before - Departed: W90 - Airport: W90, Forest, runway 16, 3,164 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 21 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LYH, 7 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 19970924037999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970924037999A), Sep 24, 1997: Cessna 150G, Forest, VA, Substantial damage. (.4) On September 24, 1997, at 1830 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N4748X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to the New London Airport… 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.