N22053

On March 3, 1996, about 1906 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150H, N22053, crashed during a forced landing, at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the first pilot, sustained substantial damage. The first and second pilots, both certificated commercial pilots and flight instructors, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Merrill Field about 1800.

The first pilot reported that he and the second pilot were conducting touch-and-go landings on runway 24. Just after lift-off, with the second pilot flying, the engine suddenly lost power. The first pilot assumed control of the airplane and performed an emergency landing in the overrun area, off the departure end of runway 24. The airplane touched down and struck a snow berm, tipping up on its nose. The airplane received damage to the nose gear, right wing tip and inboard end of the right wing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office, reported that he talked with the first pilot following the accident. During the interview, the pilot indicated that carburetor heat was applied during each landing approach. The first pilot reported that after the airplane was recovered, an inspection of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunction.

A 1913 special weather observation at Merrill Field stated, in part: Sky condition and ceiling, clear; visibility, 90 miles; temperature, 22 degrees F; dew point temperature, 21 degrees F; wind, 290 degrees at 2 knots; altimeter, 30.33 in Hg.