Cessna 150G accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin, May 19, 2002
On May 19, 2002 at about 4:54 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N8657J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2002 · about 4:54 pm local time
- Place
- Kenosha, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N8657J · registry record · serial 15066557
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged during a forced landing to a plowed field following a loss of engine power while approaching to land. The airplane was being flown by a certified flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot. The CFI stated that prior to the flight the student pilot performed a sump check of the fuel tanks and found water in the fuel samples. She said that she instructed the student to sump the fuel tanks three to five times, after which they were able to get clear fuel samples. The CFI stated that she and her student checked the weather and decided to practice landings at ENW. The CFI said that they were set up for a straight-in approach to runway 6R at ENW when the engine lost power. She said that she assumed control of the airplane and performed a, "...flow check: (Fuel selector - Both, Mixture - Rich, Carb heat - ON, Throttle - Set, [Magnetos] - Both, Engine gauges - Green.)" The CFI reported that she determined that she would not be able to make the runway and she elected to land in a field. During the forced landing, the nose landing gear of the airplane collapsed. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed traces of water in the fuel tanks, fuel hoses, and the carburetor. No other anomalies were found that could be determined to have existed prior to the accident. The temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident were reported as 8 degrees Celsius and 3 degrees Celsius respectively. According to a carburetor icing chart, the temperature and dewpoint are within the range of serious icing potential for any power setting. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 20-113 states the following regarding the use of carburetor heat: "[Carburetor] Heat should be applied for a short time to warm the induction system before beginning a prolonged descent with the engine throttled and left on during the descent. Power lever advancement should be performed periodically during descent to assure that power recovery can be achieved. The pilot should be prepared to turn heat off after power is regained to resume level flight or initiate a go-around from an abandoned approach."
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 570 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command; 199 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 15, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 27 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,083 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 21, 2001; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK Chicago/Prospec IL at 4:25 pm
- Destination: ENW Kenosha WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft; clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from ENW, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.