Cessna 150 accident near Panama City Bch, Florida, February 12, 2002
On February 12, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N10949, was destroyed in an accident near Panama City Bch, Florida (Panama City Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat that resulted in the loss of engine power. A factor was weather conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City Bch, Florida · Panama City Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N10949 · no longer on the register · serial 150-75160
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on his third simulated banner pick up and at the top of his climb when the engine lost power. The pilot stated, when he pitched the airplane up the engine started to sputter, and he heard the stall warning horn. The left wing dropped and the airplane nosed down, he leveled out the airplane and attempted to regain engine power. The pilot was never able to regain full power and the airplane collided with the trees. No mechanical malfunctions were found with the engine, and airframe during the post-accident examination. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were favorable for carburetor icing. Review of the weather data showed the ambient temperature to be 57 degrees Fahrenheit and a dew point of 36 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot did not report applying carburetor heat during any phase of the flight. According to the Cessna 150 Owner's Manual, carburetor heat should be applied during the before landing check and during rough engine operation or loss of power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 520 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 278 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,991 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 6, 2002; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PFN Panama City Bch FL at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 180, 1,320 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from KPFN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N10949 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.