NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 13, 2002, at 1158 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 150G, N2669J, was destroyed by impact forces and fire after colliding with terrain near the Port of Ilwaco Airport, Ilwaco, Washington. The student pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was owned by Twiss Air Services, Warrenton, Oregon, and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight originated from Astoria, Oregon. The exact time of departure is unknown, however, the operator estimated that the departure time was between 1000 and 1030 local. The operator also indicated that the airplane departed Astoria with approximately 18 gallons of fuel.

Several witnesses to the accident reported seeing the airplane land on runway 28. After landing, the pilot back-taxied to the approach end of runway 28 and initiated a westbound departure. Witnesses reported hearing what they described as a rough running engine during the airplane's initial climb. One witness reported hearing the engine "… partially quit then restart, partially quit a second time and restart again, then it quit and did not restart." A second witness reported hearing, "The engine coughed once, sputtered, coughed again and died." Witnesses reported seeing the airplane bank sharply to the left after the power disruption. A witness located approximately 700 feet north of the airport stated that the pilot initiated a turn to the left after the engine stopped running. The witness stated that after initiating the turn, the airplane banked sharply to the left and nosed over just before impacting terrain.

The airplane impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude approximately 580 feet west of the departure end of runway 28. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight at 46 degrees, 18.9 minutes north latitude, 124 degrees, 0.56 minutes west longitude. Personnel from Pacific County Fire District One extinguished the postcrash fire.

According to the operator, the student pilot was instructed to practice solo maneuvers and touch-and-go landings at Astoria Regional Airport, Warrenton, Oregon. The Port of Ilwaco Airport is located approximately 11 miles northwest of the Astoria airport.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Medical records obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration, indicated that the pilot held a third-class medical/student pilot certificate dated June 28, 2001. The medical certificate carried limitations requiring the pilot to wear corrective lenses for vision correction. On the medical certificate application, the pilot indicated that he had accumulated 25 hours total time, 17 of which were accumulated during the six months preceding the certificate date.

AIRPLANE INFORMATION

The airplane, a 1967 Cessna 150G, was powered by a naturally aspirated Continental O-200 series engine rated at 100 horsepower. Maintenance records indicated that the airplane's last inspection, an annual inspection, was accomplished on December 1, 2001. At the time of the inspection, the airframe had accrued 6,128 hours total time. The records also indicate that the engine was overhauled on December 12, 2001.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The 1155 Aviation Routine Weather Observation (METAR) at Astoria, approximately 11 miles south of the accident location, reported a visibility of 10 statute miles; broken clouds at 5,000 feet above ground level (AGL); temperature 7 degrees Celsius; dew point 4 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.38 inches.

According to the FAA Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (attached), this combination of temperature and dew point present a hazard of serious icing at cruise and glide power settings.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Personnel from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration accessed the wreckage on the evening of January 13. The wreckage was located in an open field west of the airport. The terrain was flat, soft, and muddy.

The airplane impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude. The remains of the fuselage were found oriented on a magnetic heading of approximately 290 degrees. All aircraft components were located in the immediate vicinity of the main wreckage and burn area.

Rearward crushing, fragmentation and thermal damage was noted to the forward section of the airframe to include the engine, engine mount assembly, firewall, and aft engine accessories. Fire and impact forces destroyed the cockpit controls, instrument panel, and cabin area.

The propeller assembly was found as a unit attached to the crankshaft flange. Rearward crushing was noted to the lower portion of the spinner. Propeller blade A was bent aft, at mid-span, approximately 20 degrees. Chord wise and diagonal scratches were noted to both sides of the propeller. Continuous aft bending, chord wise and diagonal scratches were observed to propeller blade B.

Both wings remained partially attached to the fuselage. Extensive thermal damage was noted to the wing center section and the inboard sections of both wings. Leading edge rearward crushing and upward bending was noted to the outboard section of the left wing. The left wing flap, aileron, and lift strut were found attached to their respective attach points, and control continuity was established from the aileron to the remains of the cockpit. The wing flap was found in the down position. It was noted that the wing flap moved freely from the retracted position to the down position. The right wing exhibited leading edge rearward crushing from mid-span to the distal end of the wing. The flap was in the retracted position and the lift strut, flap and aileron were attached to their normal position. Control continuity was established from the right aileron to the remains of the cockpit.

The main fuel tank sustained impact and thermal damage. An undetermined amount of amber colored fuel was noted in both main fuel tanks.

The tail cone, just forward of the empennage, was twisted to the left and bent downward. The partially attached empennage was bent forward and downward. All empennage control surfaces remained attached in their normal position. Control system continuity was established from the empennage control surfaces to the cockpit.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Pacific County Coroner's Office, South Bend, Washington, conducted the postmortem examination of the pilot. According to the autopsy report, the pilot's cause of death was attributed to traumatic chest injuries.

The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicology testing on the pilot. According to the postmortem report, results were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol, legal and illegal drugs. See attached report for specific test results.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

On January 14, 2002, the aircraft's engine and accessories were transported to a hangar facility in Warrenton, Oregon, for further examination by personnel from Cessna Aircraft Company, Teledyne Continental Motors, and the NTSB.

Extensive thermal and impact damage was noted to the engine. Crushing deformation was noted to the frontal area and bottom area of the engine. Impact and thermal damage was noted to the accessory region of the engine.

Both crankcase halves, pistons, cylinders and overhead components were intact and showed no evidence of a pre-impact failure. The crankshaft rotated freely and air compression was noted in cylinders 1,3 and 4. Piston, valve train and accessory gear continuity was established by rotating the crankshaft by hand. The oil sump was crushed. Crushing type deformity was noted to the exhaust and intake tubing. Both magnetos and their respective ignition harnesses sustained extensive thermal and impact damage and could not be functionally tested. The spark plugs were removed and normal operating wear patterns were noted.

The carburetor assembly was broken away from the intake manifold flange. The throttle control arm was intact and rotated freely. The mixture control arm was bent and rotation was restricted. The float assembly was intact. The carburetor bowl and finger inlet screen were free of containments. A small amount of an amber colored liquid, later identified as automotive gasoline, was found in the carburetor bowl. Trace amounts of water were also present in the carburetor bowl.

The carburetor air intake box was found attached to the carburetor assembly. The air box sustained considerable impact damage. The carburetor heat control cable and linkage was attached to the air box, however, the cable had been severed. The cockpit carburetor heat control knob was found in the full forward position.

Disassembly and examination of the engine's internal components revealed no evidence of abnormal wear or failure of internal components. All cylinder overhead components were intact and appeared normal. The crankcase main bearings exhibited no evidence of bearing shift or scoring. The connecting rods moved freely on their respective journals. No lifter spalling, pitting or abnormal camshaft wear was noted.

On February 4, 2002, the aircraft wreckage was released to Twiss Air Service, Warrenton, Oregon.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a low altitude turn.