Cessna 150L accident near Summerville, South Carolina, June 13, 2008
On June 13, 2008 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N5471Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Summerville, South Carolina (Summerville Airport). It was a ferry 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
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2008 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Summerville, South Carolina · Summerville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N5471Q · registry record · serial 15073371
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was departing for a ferry flight to an airport 25 miles away and just after takeoff the engine stopped. The pilot said that the engine originally started without hesitation but that during the run-up there was an indication of a fouled plug in the engine. The pilot spent several minutes clearing up the fouled plug and then took off. When the engine stopped, the pilot manipulated the throttle, causing a momentary return of power, but then the engine stopped again so the pilot made a forced landing straight ahead, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. A Federal Aviation Inspector who inspected the engine found that the magnetos would spark and that there was compression in all cylinders. The inspector also disassembled the carburetor and found no anomalies with the carburetor. The engine had a current annual inspection and had 1800 hours since the last major overhaul. The pilot submitted a written statement but not an aircraft accident report.
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 (total) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DYB Summerville SC at 11:30 pm
- Destination: LRO
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 24, 3,701 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 129° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from KCHS, 25 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.