# NTSB SEA94LA233: Cessna 150, N1396Q, Cheyenne, WY, September 6, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1994, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Cheyenne, WY - Coordinates: 41.079742, -104.710899 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0797&lon=-104.7109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42018 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42018/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA233 ## Probable cause FUEL DETERIORATION AND/OR CONTAMINATION, AND THE PILOT'S DECISION TO OPERATE THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN PROBLEM. ## 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 - fluid,fuel grade - automotive - fluid,fuel grade - deteriorated (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - fence ## Analysis AFTER OBSERVING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TWO PREVIOUS FLIGHTS, INCLUDING A FLIGHT THAT ENDED IN A FORCED LANDING, THE PILOT DECIDED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN AFTER A SUCCESSFUL GROUND RUN-UP. DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE AGAIN LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO A FENCE POST AND WAS DAMAGED. AN AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC EXTRACTED AND EXAMINED A FUEL SAMPLE FROM THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THE FUEL APPEARED 'BROWN WITH A GREEN TINT' AND WAS 'VERY SMELLY.' ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1994, about 1215 hours mountain daylight time, N1396Q, a Cessna 150, operated by the owner/pilot, impacted a fence during a forced landing in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and was substantially damaged. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during climbout. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, the pilot performed a pre-flight inspection and two engine run-ups prior to departing from a private grass airstrip. Shortly after departure, while in the downwind leg for a landing, the airplane appeared to "settle" and the engine appeared to lose power. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field located near the airstrip. The engine was re-started and run up with no discrepancies noted. The pilot then decided to take off from the field. Immediately after lifting off, the engine again lost power and the airplane descended into a fence post. The right wing strut was bent, the right wing was twisted, the right main landing gear was sheared off, and the fuselage was bent at both main landing gear attach points. A examination of the wreckage by an FAA aviation safety inspector from Denver, Colorado, revealed that the sparkplug from the number three cylinder appeared to be "extremely rich" and that engine compression was recorded "on the low side." The inspector also stated that the fuel tanks were approximately half full, and that the airplane was operating under a Supplemental Type Certificate for automotive gasoline. The engine had accumulated about 1,000 hours since its last overhaul. A sample of fuel from the airplane was extracted and examined by an airframe and powerplant mechanic under the direction of the Safety Board. The mechanic stated that the fuel appeared "brown with a green tint" and was "very smelly." In a written statement, the pilot explained that he had experienced a similar loss of engine power on takeoff 3 days prior to the accident. He stated that he safely landed the airplane back onto the private grass strip, and he dismissed the event as a "down-draft" encounter. He then stated that he should "...have had the [presence] of mind to have the engine checked for performance" after the incident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1396Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1396Q-2012-06-14), registration cancelled 2012-06-14, S/N 15072696, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15072696 - Airframe hours: 4416 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Sawyer, Terrence R. - Registered owner: Sawyer, Terrence R. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 28, 1994, 53 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 728 total, 216 in this make and model, 666 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 8 knots - Visibility: 65 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CYS, 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 19940906025589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940906025589A), Sep 6, 1994: Cessna 150L, Cheyenne, WY, Substantial damage. Lost power in pattern. Landed in field. Ran ok took off. Quit again. Crashed. Using low grade auto fuel. ## Other investigations on N1396Q (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN74DTE47](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74DTE47), Jan 10, 1974: Cessna 150 (N1396Q), Greeley, CO, substantial damage 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.