Cessna 150F N3050X

Summary

On 26 July 2011 at about 20:00 local time, a Cessna 150F registered N3050X, operated by Trapp Michael W, was involved in an accident near Harbor Beach, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 2011 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Harbor Beach, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

43.8494, -82.3067

Aircraft

Cessna 150F

Registration

N3050X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Trapp Michael W

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gouverneur → Bad Axe

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA516

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's delay in using carburetor heat while operating in carburetor icing conditions, resulting in carburetor ice and subsequent partial loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was flying over water at an altitude of 3,000 feet mean sea level when the engine began to lose power. He contacted flight watch and informed them of the situation. His efforts to restart the engine by applying carburetor heat and full mixture were unsuccessul. He said that engine power was regained just prior to ditching the airplane. He exited the airplane which sank soon after contacting the water. The pilot was rescued 18 hours later. A review of the Federal Aviation Administration Carburetor Icing chart revealed the conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power. The pilot reported he did not recognize the symptoms of carburetor ice and that he should have applied the carburetor heat sooner.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.