Cessna 150 N704QJ

Summary

On 13 November 2019 at about 07:15 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N704QJ was involved in an accident near Red Rock, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 November 2019 at 07:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Red Rock, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Pinal Airpark (MZJ)

Coordinates

32.4761, -111.3378

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N704QJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marana → Glendale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR20LA022

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper use of carburetor heat. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he recently purchased the airplane, and the accident flight was a familiarization flight. After taking off, he conducted some maneuvers before proceeding to another airport to perform a touch-and-go landing. About 6 miles away from the airport, he reduced the power setting to about 1,900 rpm and started the descent to land; about 1 mile from the airport, he reduced power to 1,500 rpm, and then idle on final approach. He stated that he applied carburetor heat about halfway to reduce its effect on engine performance. During takeoff following the touch-and-go landing, the airplane started to shake, and about 1,500 ft above the ground, the engine lost total power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field; during which the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage. About 8 gallons of fuel was drained from the airplane during recovery. The engine was rotated by hand at the propeller, and internal continuity and cylinder compression was confirmed. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at glide power settings. Given that the pilot extended the carburetor heat control only halfway, the heat applied was likely insufficient to prevent the formation of carburetor ice during the reduced power descent toward the airport, and the subsequent total loss of power was the result of carburetor icing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.