Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary FTW91LA130

HITCHCOCK, TX, USA

Aircraft #1

N8585J

CESSNA 150G

Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT UPON RENTING A CESSNA 150G, WAS ADVISED BY THE OWNER THAT THE AIRPLANE REQUIRED THE MIXTURE TO BE LEANED IN ORDER TO RUN SMOOTHLY. UPON DEPARTURE, UTILIZING A LEANED MIXTURE, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONDUCT A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. A SECOND PRE-FLIGHT WAS PERFORMED AND A DEPARTURE WAS COMMENCED FROM THE GRASS AIRSTRIP. AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 FEET DOWN THE 2,600 FOOT AIRSTRIP, AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 25 FEET, A POWER LOSS OCCURRED AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. PERFORMANCE DATA INDICATES THAT THE TOTAL DISTANCE TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE, GIVEN THE EXISTING CONDITIONS, WAS 1,625 FEET. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE NOSE TO LAND BUT WAS TOO SLOW TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING ATTITUDE. ELEVATION WAS 20 FEET MSL.

Probable Cause and Findings

A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S CONTINUED OPERATION WITH A KNOWN ENGINE DEFICIENCY AND THE OWNER/OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO PERFORM NEEDED MAINTENANCE.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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