Cessna 150M accident near Stanley, North Dakota, February 28, 1993
On February 28, 1993 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704AF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stanley, North Dakota. It was an instructional 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 STUDENT PILOT'S DELAYED USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. THE SOFT TERRAIN IN THE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1993 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stanley, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704AF · no longer on the register · serial 15078453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
STUDENT PILOT ON A CROSS COUNTRY EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SNOW COVERED FIELD, AND NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED BY THE FAA, AND NO CONDITIONS WHICH WOULD PRECLUDE NORMAL OPERATION WERE FOUND. THE PILOT TOLD THE FAA INSPECTOR THAT SHE DID NOT USE THE CARBURETOR HEAT UNTIL JUST BEFORE SHE LANDED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 38 DEGREES F, AND THE DEW POINT WAS 28 DEGREES F. THESE CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR CARBURETOR ICING IN CRUISE FLIGHT.
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: student
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,176 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 4, 1993; 21 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: MOT Minot ND at 5:30 pm
- Destination: ISN Williston ND
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:59 pm from MOT, 47 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.