Cessna 150G accident near Manchester, Michigan, July 3, 1990
On July 3, 1990 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N4690X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manchester, Michigan. 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1990 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Manchester, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4690X · no longer on the register · serial 15064740
- 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 DURING NORMAL CRUISE FLIGHT HE NOTICED A 'SEVERE VIBRATION, AS WELL AS A TREMENDOUS LOSS OF POWER.' HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT, RECENTLY PLOWED FIELD. WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND CAME TO A STOP UPSIDE DOWN. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO COMPRESSION IN THE #2 CYLINDER. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE #2 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE WAS STUCK IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION. THE MOST RECENT MAINTENANCE WAS AN ANNUAL INSPECTION DATED FIVE MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRCRAFT/ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED 83 HOURS SINCE THAT TIME. THE COMPRESSION CHECK WAS SATISFACTORY ON ALL CYLINDERS AT THE TIME OF THE ANNUAL INSPECTION.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 129 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,013 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1990; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 4:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Clinton MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Observation at 2:48 pm from ARB
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.
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.