Pilot Debrief

Cessna 150 near Rio Grande City, TX — 2019-08-15

Final reportCEN19LA275
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Date
2019-08-15
Location
Rio Grande City, TX, USA
Aircraft
Cessna 150
Registration
N150CR
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The loss of engine power following an increase in oil temperature for undetermined reasons during cruise flight, which resulted in a forced landing on unsuitable terrain.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was on a cross-country flight; about 20 minutes into the flight, the oil temperature gauge indicated a red line reading. The pilot reduced engine power, applied full rich mixture, and reduced airplane pitch in attempt to lower the oil temperature. The airplane was midway between the destination and the nearest airport, and the pilot elected to continue to the destination. The engine then started to run rough and lost all power. The pilot landed the airplane on an open area on hilly and wooded terrain where it impacted a rock pile and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage and aft fuselage. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not identify anything that would have caused the engine to overheat or the loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have returned to the nearest airport after the oil temperature warning.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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