Cessna 150M N3674V

Summary

On 25 June 1991 at about 18:11 local time, a Cessna 150M registered N3674V, operated by Pegasas Flight Center, Inc., was involved in an accident near Dana Point, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 1991 at 18:11

Classification

Accident

Location

Dana Point, California, United States

Coordinates

33.4700, -117.7001

Aircraft

Cessna 150M

Registration

N3674V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Pegasas Flight Center, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Fullerton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91LA276

1 person had minor injuries.

THE SEIZURE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER'S EXHAUST VALVE IN ITS GUIDE AND THE RELATED FRACTURING OF THE ROCKER ARM; AND THE PILOT'S OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE CRUISING NEAR A BEACH THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING OFF SHORE. UPON TOUCHING DOWN IN SHALLOW WATER THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ITS NO.1 CYLINDER'S EXHAUST VALVE HAD PROBABLY BECOME STUCK IN ITS GUIDE, & ULTIMATELY THE ROCKER ARM BROKE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT HAD EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS & WHEN THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED THE SAME STUCK VALVE WAS FOUND. THE MECHANIC WHO FREED UP THE VALVE HAD CAUTIONED THE PILOT THAT, ALTHOUGH HE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN FREEING UP THE VALVE, THE ENGINE WAS IN NEED OF AN OVERHAUL & THE VALVE COULD BECOME STUCK, AT ANY TIME, DURING FUTURE FLIGHTS. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR ABOUT 1857 HOURS SINCE ITS LAST MAJOR OVERHAUL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.