NTSB Factual Report

On January 28, 2001, at 1600 central standard time, a Cessna 150H, N22026, piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage during an impact with a snowbank and subsequent nose over, following in-flight loss of power and subsequent forced landing on runway 29 (4,300 feet by 75 feet, snow-covered/asphalt) at the Burlington Municipal Airport, Burlington, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The solo flight was operating as an instructional flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The flight was departing at the time of the accident for a local flight consisting of touch-and-go's.

According to the pilot's written statement, "Immediately after rotation, only 7-8' off the ground, engine lost power and made a noise. Aborted takeoff and landed at far end of runway. Upon touch down, plane skidded left and I corrected to the right but continued to skid - slick - corrected to the left again and skidded into snowbank. The pilot reported, "Snow bank was frozen and quite hard, struck snowbank and subsequently nosed over."

Postaccident investigation of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would preclude the normal operation of the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft control not maintained by the pilot during the landing roll. Factors to the accident were the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, the end of the runway being snow-covered, and the snowbank.