NTSB Factual Report

On July 12, 2018, about 1645 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N6908G, experienced a loss of engine power and was destroyed following an off-airport landing near Ontario Municipal Airport, Ontario, Oregon. The student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal cross-country flight originated from Caldwell Industrial Airport, Caldwell, Idaho about 1620 and was destined for Ontario.

The student pilot stated that he was on final approach to the destination airport when the engine experienced a loss of power. Given the airplane's low altitude, he opted to make an emergency landing in a nearby wheat field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a ditch and flipped over coming to rest inverted. The airplane erupted into flames and the student egressed with minor injuries. The airplane was consumed by fire.

The student's certified flight instructor was the owner of the airplane. He stated that he and the student had never flown together in hotter temperatures because he thought the airplane wouldn't have the performance to takeoff. He had taught the student that while on final approach, the mixture control was to be set to a full rich position and the carburetor heat should be on. He thought that this may have contributed to the loss of engine power.

The student pilot received his student pilot certificate in May 2018. At the time of the accident, he had accumulated 21.3 hours of total flight time, of which 19.7 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane and 6.4 hours were as pilot-in-command. The student's first solo flight was June 25, 2018.