NTSB Factual Report

On May 26, 2006 at 2000 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N66058, registered to and operated by a private individual as a 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, lost engine power during approach to land and collided with the ground, near Bishopville, South Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight originated from Hartsville Regional Airport (HVS), Hartsville, South Carolina on May 26, 2006 at 1930.

The pilot stated that he departed HVS to fly over to a private strip, Mitchell Field, near Bishopville, with the intention of conducting a touch and go landing before returning to HVS. He flew over the private strip, and noted that the winds were calm according to the windsock. He entered the downwind leg for runway 06, and began to prepare the airplane for landing. He pulled the power back to slow the airplane down and engaged the carburetor heat. The pilot stated that the engine started "missing and lost all pulling power but continued to run". When he attempted to increase power the engine did not respond. He was unable to make the landing on the airstrip and decided to make an emergency landing in a nearby wheat field. During the approach he banked the airplane to the left to avoid hitting a tree. The left wing hit the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled and came to rest inverted on the ground. The pilot did not report any flight control anomalies prior to the accident. Examination of the engine by a FAA inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during the approach to land, which resulted in an off-airport emergency landing.