Cessna 150E accident near Glenwood, New Mexico, December 29, 1991
On December 29, 1991 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150E, registered N306BJ, was destroyed in an accident near Glenwood, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE SPARK PLUGS. FACTORS WERE INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION AND UNSUITABLE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 1991 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Glenwood, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150E · all 150Es on the register
- Registration
- N306BJ · no longer on the register · serial 15061160
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOPPED OFF BOTH FUEL TANKS WITH AUTOGAS AND DEPARTED WITH A FRIEND TO SEARCH FOR GAME. WHILE CLIMBING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND ON UNSUITABLE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. EXAMINATION CONFIRMED ENGINE CONTINUITY. THE CARBURETOR, AIR FILTER, AND MAGNETOS WERE UNREMARKABLE. FOUR OF THE EIGHT SPARK PLUS FAILED TO FIRE WHEN TESTED. AFTER CLEANING, NONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD FIRE AT 80 PSI IN A TEST CHAMBER. AN ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 398 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 398 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,704 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 1991; 2 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: NONE Gila NM at 2:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.