- Date
- February 27, 1994, 14:27 local (22:27 UTC)
- Place
- Clarkston, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N50765Cessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940227002979A
- Case key
- 41881
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
The pilot in command's inadequate use of carburetor heat. Factor(s) were: carburetor icing weather conditions and rough terrain.
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
The aircraft departed with 20 gallons of auto gas, and after conducting several touch & go landings, the pilot in command departed the pattern. Shortly thereafter, the engine began sputtering and losing power. The pilot applied carburetor heat briefly with no apparent effect, then returned it to the cold position. The temperature\dew point immediately preceding the accident was 40/33 degrees f. with multiple cloud layers beginning 2000 feet above the crash site. Precipitation as drizzle was recorded 45 minutes before the accident. The pilot executed a forced landing in a plowed field crossing the furrows at an approximate 60 degree angle. During the rollout, the nose landing gear collapsed.
Factual narrative
On February 27, 1994, at approximately 1427 hours Pacific standard time (PST), a Cessna 150, N50765, registered to and being flown by Harold E. Hedrick, a commercially certificated pilot, sustained substantial damage when the aircraft nosed over during a forced landing following a power loss near Clarkston, Washington. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been operated in accordance with the requirements set forth in 14CFR91, and originated from Lewiston, Idaho, at approximately 1345 hours.
The pilot reported that after several touch and go landings, he departed the pattern westbound. Shortly thereafter the engine began "sputtering" and he was unable to maintain altitude. He executed a forced landing to a plowed field landing approximately 60 degrees to the furrows (refer to photograph 01). During the rollout the nose wheel collapsed and the aircraft nosed over. The elevation of the accident site was approximately 450 feet above sea level (refer to CHART I).
The pilot report that the aircraft had a total of 20 gallons of automotive fuel aboard when it took off from the Lewiston Airport.
The pilot was interviewed by telephone by the Investigator in Charge and reported that he applied carburetor heat, observed no change in engine performance, and returned the carburetor heat to the cold position.
The aircraft was transported to the facilities of Gustin Aviation at the Lewiston Airport, Lewiston, Idaho, following the accident. Mr. Ron Gustin examined the engine at that time and found no evidence of any mechanical malfunction.
Selected meteorological observing system (AMOS) reports taken at the Lewiston airport (elevation: 1,438 feet above sea level) on the afternoon of the accident were recorded as follows:
1349 hours: ceiling measured 1,100' broken; 2,100' overcast 10 miles visibility in light drizzle; temperature 40 deg F., dew point 34 deg. F.; winds 140 deg. (true) at 5 knots; altimeter 30.07 inches of Hg.
1409 hours: sky condition 1,000' scattered, ceiling measured 1,700' broken, 5,000' overcast; 10 miles visibility; temperature 40 deg F., dew point 33 deg. F.; winds 160 deg. (true) at 5 knots; altimeter 30.07 inches of Hg. remarks: drizzle ended at 1405 hours
Aircraft
- Registration
- N50765
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15069538
- Airframe hours
- 6,496
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hedrick, Harold, E.
- Registered owner
- Hedrick, Harold, E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 16, 1993 · 105 hours before
- Departed
- LWS · Lewiston, ID
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
- 34
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,824 total · 500 in this make and model · 2,686 as pilot in command · 26 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LWS, 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.