Cessna 150J N50446
26 August 1994 · Spruce Pine, North Carolina, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 26 August 1994 at about 23:00 local time, a Cessna 150J registered N50446, operated by Eagle Wings Aviation, was involved in an accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 23:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Spruce Pine, North Carolina, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.9100, -82.0600
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J
- Registration
- N50446
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Eagle Wings Aviation
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Other Work Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL94LA165
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
A seized cylinder exhaust valve because of deposits on the valve and an oversized valve stem. The lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing was a factor.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT OVER MOUNTAINOUS TREE COVERED TERRAIN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. IT CONTINUED TO DECREASE TO IDLE AS THE PILOT GLIDED THE ACFT TO A SMALL CLEARING. THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED UPSLOPE, ROLLED OVER A HILL, AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED BEFORE COLLIDING WITH TREES. THERE WAS NO BRAKING FRICTION BECAUSE OF WET GRASS. DURING A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION, A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE WAS FOUND IN THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER. THE HEAD OF THE VALVE STEM WAS DISCOLORED AND HAD THE APPEARANCE OF A VARNISH-LIKE COATING. MEASUREMENTS OF THE VALVE STEM AND GUIDE SHOWED THAT THE STEM WAS 0.0075 MICROMETERS LARGER THAN THE GUIDE. FOURTEEN MONTHS EARLIER A VALVE HAD STUCK IN THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. SINCE THE AVAILABILITY OF THE AUTO FUEL STC, THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATED ABOUT 25%-50% OF ITS HOURS WITH AUTO FUEL. RECENT CYLINDER COMPRESSION CHECKS HAD BEEN WITHIN LIMITS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna 150 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 1994 | Cessna 150E | Raymond, Mississippi, United States | Wesley Flyers Club Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 May 1994 | Cessna 150L | Rio Linda, California, United States | Hinckley, Thomas, F. | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1994 | Cessna 150M | Waseca, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1994 | Cessna 150 | Andover, Minnesota, United States | Flywell Flying Club Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 1994 | Cessna 150L | N. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 1994 | Cessna 150 | Watersmeet, Michigan, United States | Instit. FOR Basic Life Prin. | Minor injuries | - |
All 10,427 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Feb 1994 | Piper PA-24-250 | Kinston, North Carolina, United States | Shnur, Morris | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1994 | Cessna 182RG | Concord, North Carolina, United States | Phillips, E. Rolland | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1994 | Rutan RUTAN LONG EZ | Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-24-180 | Boone, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-28-180 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States | Collier, Stephen C. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Piper PA-28-140 | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |