Cessna 150M accident near Rochester, New York, March 18, 1993
On March 18, 1993 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N63206, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rochester, New York (Greater Rochester Intl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO OVER-PRIMING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 1993 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rochester, New York · Greater Rochester Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N63206 · no longer on the register · serial 15077174
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IT WAS A COLD DAY, AND AS THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR EARLIER, THE INSTRUCTOR DID NOT PRE-HEAT THE ENGINE. HIS THREE ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, SO HE DECIDED TO PRE-HEAT. HE PRIMED THE ENGINE, BUT THIS ATTEMPT WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL, SO TWO ADDITIONAL SHOTS OF PRIME WERE APPLIED. BY THIS TIME, THE BATTERY WAS INEFFECTIVE, SO THE INSTRUCTOR DECIDED THAT AN EXTERNAL START WAS REQUIRED. WHILE EXITING THE AIRPLANE, THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE COWLING. HE ADVISED THE STUDENT TO VACATE THE AREA, AND HE SHUT OFF THE FUEL SELECTOR BEFORE LEAVING THE AREA TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. BY THE TIME HE HAD RETURNED WITH AN EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE HAD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 407 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 337 as pilot in command; 13 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,977 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 17, 1992; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Bill Law Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: ROC at 10:00 pm
- Destination: ROC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N63206 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.