Cessna 150G N3131J

Summary

On 11 November 2022 at about 19:07 local time, a Cessna 150G registered N3131J, operated by Flying Wild Arizona LLC, was involved in an accident near Star Valley, Arizona, 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

11 November 2022 at 19:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Star Valley, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

34.4457, -111.0663

Aircraft

Cessna 150G

Registration

N3131J

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Flying Wild Arizona LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Deer Valley → Gallup

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA031

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of the No. 1 cylinder exhaust or intake valve which resulted in the partial loss of engine power and subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was enroute during a cross-country flight when the engine began running rough. He attempted to land in a clearing, but the airplane collided with trees and came to rest inverted before reaching the desired landing area. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 1 cylinder exhaust valve had separated and was imbedded in the face of the No. 1 piston, cracking the piston. A portion of the intake valve was missing, and a portion of a valve was recovered inside the heat exchanger. Either a failed intake or exhaust valve would have resulted in a partial loss of engine power, but damage to the No. 1 piston and its intake and exhaust valves prevented determination of the initiating failure within the cylinder.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.