Cessna 150M accident near Wadsworth, Ohio, August 11, 2021
On August 11, 2021 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 1974 Cessna 150M, registered N66748, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Wadsworth, Ohio (Weltzien Skypark airport). It was a personal 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 partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat when the power loss occurred.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2021 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wadsworth, Ohio · Weltzien Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M, built 1974 · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66748 · registry record · serial 15076249
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, she noticed that the airplane was not climbing normally and heard the stall warning horn. The pilot then noticed the engine speed was rapidly decreasing from 2,500 to 1,500 rpm. The pilot established the airplane’s best glide speed and prepared for a forced landing to a corn field. She did not apply carburetor heat. After touchdown, the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed low compression on the No.1 cylinder, but, after staking the valves, compression increased with no leaking past the valves. Also, the airplane’s most recent annual inspection was completed 4 days before the accident with normal compressions noted. Thus, the low compression during the postaccident examination was likely a result of the accident and the airplane remaining in an inverted position in the field for about 4 days after the accident. When the temperature and dew point of the area surrounding the accident site were entered into a carburetor icing probability chart, the result was in the “moderate icing – cruise power” and “serious icing – glide power” category. When the pilot was asked how the carburetor heat was checked, she stated that she turned it on, saw a drop in engine rpm and immediately turned it off. Thus, the loss of engine power was likely due to carburetor icing that accumulated before and during the takeoff, and the pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat when the engine speed began to decrease. The momentary application of carburetor heat before takeoff was likely not sufficient to reduce or eliminate the ice buildup.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (partial) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Ice/rain protection system › Intake anti › ice, deice › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 358 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 220 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 14, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,244.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 2021; 11.2 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 2,410 ft by 37 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from KBJJ, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on December 12, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | POH Excerpt - Carburetor Icing | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N66748 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.