Cessna 150L accident near Reserve, New Mexico, July 15, 2000
On July 15, 2000 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N18124, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reserve, New Mexico. 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
Seizure of the starter clutch assembly needle bearing, which caused the engine to develop less than full rated power and the airplane to achieve less than expected climb performance. Factors were noncompliance of a service bulletin, unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing, and trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2000 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Reserve, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N18124 · no longer on the register · serial 15073803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, at approximately 100 feet agl, the airplane 'lost performance' and began to lose altitude. The pilot turned towards descending terrain and attempted to land on a road. Insufficient altitude resulted in the airplane colliding with trees. The engine was examined by the pilot's personal mechanic, who discovered the clutch assembly on the Prestolite starter had seized due to a failed needle bearing. Examination of the airplane maintenance records disclosed no evidence that TCM S.B. M79-10, which provides positive lubrication to the starter clutch, had been accomplished.
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: 82 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,161 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 86 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: Q16 at 9:47 pm
- Destination: Q35 Springerville AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.