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NTSB Identification: ANC96LA047. The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System. |
Accident occurred Sunday, April 14, 1996 at WASILLA, AK |
Aircraft: Cessna 150J, registration: N50529 |
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor |
Event: 20001208X05496 Status: Final Report Approved On Monday, December 16, 1996 |
NTSB Preliminary Narrative (6120.19A) |
On April 14, 1996, about 1510 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150J, N50529, crashed about 3 miles south of Wasilla, Alaska. |
The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, |
registered to Ed's Air Service, Anchorage, Alaska, and operated by the first pilot, was destroyed. The certificated commercial pilot/flight |
instructor (first pilot), received serious injuries. The noncertificated student pilot, (second pilot), received minor injuries. Visual meteorological |
conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1345. |
On April 15, 1996, at 1322, the second pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) |
investigator-in-charge (IIC), that he was considering flight lessons and was receiving a demonstration from the first pilot. The second pilot |
occupied the left seat. Prior to departure, the first pilot reported that the airplane engine was hard to start and became flooded. While starting, |
flames were observed emanating from the exhaust. The pilot continued cranking the engine and the flames went out. The pilot continued the |
engine run-up and departure preparations. |
After departure, the first pilot reported that he demonstrated slow flight and a series of turns and stalls, adding carburetor heat control before |
each reduction of engine power. During the recovery from the third full flap stall, about 2,400 feet mean sea level (msl), the first pilot lowered |
the nose of the airplane and added throttle. The engine did not respond and the propeller stopped. Efforts to restore engine power, including |
activating the engine starter were unsuccessful. The pilot selected an emergency landing area on a road but then noticed power lines along the |
road. He then performed a landing into trees. The airplane settled to the ground inverted. The first pilot did not recall if he applied carburetor |
heat during the emergency descent. |
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) responded to the scene |
and reported that fuel was present in the airplane's gascolator. The owner of the airplane responded to the accident scene and reported that |
when he arrived, the airplane's master switch and magnetos were off. The fuel selector was in the "on" position. The carburetor heat control |
was off. The flaps were retracted. |
After the airplane was recovered, an engine examination was conducted on April 16, 1996. The examination revealed engine gear and valve |
train continuity. Spark was produced from all towers of each magneto. The carburetor fuel inlet screen was free of contaminants. Fuel was |
present in the accelerator pump and dripping from the inlet air filter element. The carburetor's one piece venturi was intact and undamaged. |
Engine cylinder compression for the number 1 cylinder was 74/80 psi; cylinder number 2 was 12/80 psi with air heard leaking around the |
exhaust valve; cylinder number 3 was 73/80 psi; cylinder number 4 was 73/80 psi. The number 2 cylinder was removed and examined. The |
cylinder walls, piston and piston rings were undamaged. Carbon was observed on the exhaust valve seat. |
The closest official weather observation station is an automated weather observation system (AWOS) at Wasilla, which is located 3 nautical |
miles north of the accident site. At 1454, the AWOS was reporting in part: Sky condition and ceiling, clear below 12,000 feet; visibility, 10 miles; |
temperature, 47 degrees F; dew point, 19 degrees F; wind, 180 degrees at 5 knots; altimeter, 29.74 inHg. |
NTSB Final Narrative (6120.4) |
A certificated flight instructor was providing a flight demonstration to a prospective student. The student occupied the left seat. Prior to |
departure, the airplane engine was hard to start and became flooded. While starting, flames were observed emanating from the exhaust. The |
pilot continued cranking the engine and the flames went out. After departure, the instructor demonstrated slow flight and a series of turns and |
stalls, adding carburetor heat before each reduction of engine power. During the recovery from the third full flap stall, about 2,400 feet mean |
sea level (msl), the first pilot lowered the nose of the airplane and added throttle. The engine did not respond and the propeller stopped. Efforts |
to restore engine power, including activating the engine starter were unsuccessful. The pilot selected an emergency landing area on a road but |
then noticed power lines along the road. He then performed a landing into trees. The airplane settled to the ground inverted. A postaccident |
examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunction. An AWOS weather observation, 3 miles north of the accident indicated a |
temperature of 47 degrees with a dew point temperature of 19 degrees. |
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative |
A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. |
Occurrences and Sequence of Events |
Occurrence: 1, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER |
Phase of Operation: MANEUVERING |
Sequence of Events for Occurrence Number: 1 |
1 ( Cause ) REASON FOR OCCURRENCE UNDETERMINED / / |
Occurrence: 2, FORCED LANDING |
Phase of Operation: EMERGENCY DESCENT/LANDING |
Occurrence: 3, IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT |
Phase of Operation: EMERGENCY DESCENT/LANDING |
Sequence of Events for Occurrence Number: 3 |
1 (Finding) OBJECT / TREE(S) / (0) |
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