Cessna 150L accident near Carthage, Indiana, June 20, 2015
On June 20, 2015 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1972 Cessna 150L, registered N17292, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Carthage, Indiana (Small Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2015 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Carthage, Indiana · Small Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L, built 1972 · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N17292 · no longer on the register · serial 15073705
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was conducting a personal local flight in the airplane. The pilot reported that the engine lost power during initial climb after takeoff. His attempts to restore power by adjusting the fuel mixture and throttle were unsuccessful. The pilot reported that he applied carburetor heat and that the engine began running more roughly but that he left the carburetor heat activated. He subsequently conducted and off-airport landing in a corn field, and the airplane nosed over. The engine was not examined because, after the accident, the owner removed the airplane from the accident site and sold the engine. However, a mechanic who was subsequently hired to overhaul the engine reported that it had been improperly assembled with noncertificated parts. Although the engine had been improperly assembled, there was no evidence that the improper assembly resulted in the reported loss of engine power; however, the extent of the improper assembly indicated that an engine failure was imminent. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power. Federal Aviation Administration guidance indicates that the application of carburetor heat may result in engine roughness while the ice melts, which is consistent with the pilot's report. Based on the available information, the engine likely lost power due to carburetor icing.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,247 hours in all; 3,118 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 3,247 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IN81 Carthage IN at 3:00 pm
- Destination: IN81 Carthage IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,200 ft by 120 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from GEZ, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.