# NTSB SEA00LA008: Cessna 150B, N1252Y, Sweet Home, OR, October 23, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 1999, 16:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Sweet Home, OR - Coordinates: 44.360267, -122.690658 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3603&lon=-122.6907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47702/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA008 ## Probable cause Carburetor heat was not used prior to takeoff. Carburetor icing conditions and high vegetation were factors. ## Analysis The pilot reported that prior to takeoff, the engine was idling for about five minutes while he programmed his GPS. The pilot then initiated the takeoff. During the climb, the airplane attained an altitude of about 300 - 400 feet when the engine lost power. The pilot pushed the nose down to establish the best glide. During the turn back in an attempt to land on the runway, the pilot realized that he would not make it and diverted to a nearby field. During the descent, the pilot pushed the mixture to rich and applied carburetor heat, however, the engine would not start. During the landing roll in the field that was covered with berry vines, the airplane collided with the vines, slid about 30 feet, and spun around about 150 degrees to the left before coming to rest. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time. The carburetor icing probability chart for the reported temperature and dew point, indicate that the aircraft was operating in the range of serious icing - cruise or climb power. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 1999, about 1645 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150B, N1252Y, registered to and operated by the commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during an off-airport landing following an abrupt loss of engine power, one mile east of the Green River Airstrip, Sweet Home, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14CFR91 personal flight. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The flight originated from the Green River Airstrip approximately two minutes prior to the accident. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that prior to takeoff, he was sitting with the engine idling for about five minutes while he programmed his GPS. The pilot then applied full power for takeoff, and the airplane lifted off at about 50 mph. The pilot established a 60 mph climb to about 300 - 400 feet when the engine "dogged down and then stopped." The pilot pitched the nose down to establish the best glide in an attempt to return to the runway. During the turn back, the pilot realized that he would not be able to return to the runway and he diverted to a nearby field. During the descent, the pilot pushed the mixture to rich and applied carburetor heat, however the engine would not start. The pilot continued with the forced landing to the field that was covered with berry vines. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with the berry vines, slid about 30 feet, then spun around about 150 degrees to the left before coming to rest. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time. In a side note on the attached Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form, the pilot indicated, "maybe apply carb heat right before takeoff" in answer to how this accident could have been prevented, The nearest weather reporting facility located about 32 miles southwest of the accident site at Eugene, Oregon, indicated that the temperature was 60 degrees F, and the dew point was 46 degrees F. The attached carburetor icing probability chart for the reported temperatures indicates the probability of serious icing - cruise or climb power. ## 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 - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1252Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1252Y-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 15059652, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150B - Registry model: [Cessna 150B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150b) (registry code 2071806) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15059652 - Airframe hours: 4030 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bradley A. Looney - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1999, 14 hours before - Destination: S30, LEBANON, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 950 total, 700 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EUG, 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 19991023031759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991023031759A), Oct 23, 1999: Cessna 150B, Sweet Home, OR, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 23, 1999, about 1645 pacific standard time, a Cessna 150B, N1252Y, registered to and operated by the commercial pilot, was substantially… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.