Cessna 150 N3059X

Summary

On 23 July 2021 at about 22:30 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N3059X was involved in an accident near Arden, North Carolina, 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

23 July 2021 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Arden, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Asheville Rgnl (AVL)

Coordinates

35.4722, -82.5485

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N3059X

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Asheville → Statesville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA297

Nobody was injured.

The inadequate inspection of the throttle control cable assembly, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power during cruise flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot was climbing through 5,100 feet mean sea level when the engine “went to idle.” He attempted to adjust the throttle setting; however, the tachometer continued to indicate 740 rpm. The pilot established best glide speed, declared an emergency, and performed a forced landing into a coal ash pit, during which the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the throttle control cable had separated from the throttle control lever and there was no spring installed. The securing hardware (bolt/washer/cotter pin) was not found. It is likely that the absence of the cotter pin was not noted during the annual inspection 15 hours before the accident, which allowed the bolt holding the throttle cable to the throttle control lever to loosen and depart during flight, resulting in an engine power reduction to idle.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.