Cessna 150C N2080Z

Summary

On 17 March 2004 at about 16:26 local time, a Cessna 150C registered N2080Z was involved in an accident near DeLand, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 March 2004 at 16:26

Classification

Accident

Location

DeLand, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Bob Lee Flight Strip (1J6)

Coordinates

29.1022, -81.3219

Aircraft

Cessna 150C

Registration

N2080Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bob Lee FS → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC04FA042

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to detect water in the fuel system during the preflight inspection, which precipitated a loss of engine power during initial climb, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The unqualified pilot departed on a VFR local personal flight with one passenger. Witnesses reported a normal takeoff, but during the initial climb, they indicated the engine started running rough, and the airplane started a right turn toward the airport. The witnesses said the engine then quit completely, the airplane banked sharply to the left, and descended straight down, impacting the ground about 1/8 of a mile from the airstrip. The two occupants of the airplane were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by impact and postcrash fire. The owner of the airplane, who is a certified aviation mechanic with inspector authorization, said the pilot was a friend who flew the airplane several days a week. He said the pilot fueled the airplane with auto gas prior to the flight, and that there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane he was aware of. The accident site was a level cultivated field. The airplane impacted the ground in an approximate 60 degree pitch down, and 30 degrees right wing low attitude. The gascolator was heat damaged, but remained intact. Upon opening the gascolator, about 1/2 ounce of water was found inside the glass bowl. The engine was examined, and no preaccident mechanical anomalies were found. The unqualified pilot did not possess an FAA airman certificate, and no record of any flight time or flight training was discovered during the investigation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.