CESSNA 150M
Greene, IA — December 31, 2008
Event Information
| Date | December 31, 2008 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN09CA121 |
| Event ID | 20090107X21822 |
| Location | Greene, IA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 42.74194, -92.50806 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | CESSNA |
| Model | 150M |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
A loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the rough, snow-covered terrain.
Full Narrative
The recently certificated private pilot reported that during the flight he reduced the engine power setting and descended to an altitude of 800 to 1,000 feet above the ground so the passenger could take aerial photographs of a farm house. During a telephone interview the pilot stated that he had the power setting pulled back approximately "half way" while they were circling the farm. The pilot reported the engine seized when he attempted to apply full power to gain altitude. The airplane landed hard during an off-airport forced landing on a snow covered farm field. The airplane sustained firewall damage when the nose gear collapsed following a 75-foot-long landing roll. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat while circling. Post accident inspection revealed the engine turned freely when rotated by hand and when the ignition was engaged. Examination of the spark plugs revealed they were black in color from soot. The pilot had a total of 61 hours of flight time.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.