N23295

Substantial
None

CESSNA 150HS/N: 15068855

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, April 24, 2011
NTSB Number
WPR11LA210
Location
College Place, WA
Event ID
20110425X95343
Coordinates
46.046665, -118.416946
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s delayed use of carburetor heat while operating the airplane in atmospheric conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing during final approach.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
CESSNA
Serial Number
15068855
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1968
Model / ICAO
150HC150
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
150H

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
COOK ERIK C
Address
3153 SW INDIAN PL
City
REDMOND
State / Zip Code
OR 97756-7681
Country
United States

Analysis

On April 24, 2011, at 0945 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N23295, experienced a loss of engine power on final approach for the Martin Field Airport (S95), College Place, Washington. The airplane landed short of the runway on an adjacent road and collided with obstacles. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane's right wing struck a sign, which resulted in substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed at 0930, and no flight plan had been filed.According to the pilot, he was doing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the accident flight as he turned the airplane onto the base leg of the approach, the rpm's dropped. He pushed in the carburetor heat and checked the fuel selector. The pilot then attempted to restart the engine. The pilot turned the airplane toward the runway and tried to restart the engine again. He knew he was not going to make the runway, and an adjacent road seemed the best place to land instead of the soft, recently plowed field that was also nearby. He landed the airplane and on the rollout, the right wing struck the top of "watch for low-flying aircraft" sign.

The pilot stated that after the airplane came to a stop, he attempted to restart the engine. On the second attempt, he first primed the engine, and was then able to start it. He then taxied the airplane back to his tie down spot at the airport.

A weather reporting station about 6 nautical miles from the accident site reported a temperature of 48 degrees F and dew point of 30 degrees F at the time of the accident. These weather conditions were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power.

A post accident examination and flow bench test of the airplane's carburetor revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR11LA210