Cessna 150 N9447U

Summary

On 14 February 1982 at about 02:00 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N9447U, operated by David Vaughan, was involved in an accident near Altamont, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

14 February 1982 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Altamont, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

39.0502, -88.7400

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N9447U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

David Vaughan

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Effingham → Vandalia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI82DA046

1 person had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AT NIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED. PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN A LIGHT COLORED AREA THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY DARKER AREAS. DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WHICH DAMAGED THE LEFT WING AND TAIL, AND KNOCKED THE WINDSHIELD OUT. AT THIS TIME, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING. THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND THE PLANE SETTLED TO THE GROUND WHICH WAS COVERED WITH 14 INCHES OF SNOW. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE NOSE GEAR FOLDED AND THE WHEEL PANTS SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING GEAR. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HEAT DUCT TO THE CARBURETOR AIR BOX WAS DETERIORATED TO THE EXTENT THAT HEAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIVERTED FROM THE CARBURETOR. HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO OTHER MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 21 AND 15 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.