Cessna 150G accident near Cooperstown, New York, April 7, 2010
On April 7, 2010 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N4760X, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Cooperstown, New York (Cooperstown-Westville Airport). It was an instructional 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
A partial loss of engine power during a simulated engine-out demonstration due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2010 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Cooperstown, New York · Cooperstown-Westville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150G · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4760X · no longer on the register · serial 15064810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that he was demonstrating to the student a simulated loss of engine power and landing to the airport. He began by reducing power then applying carburetor heat. He maneuvered the airplane in a descending right turn and cleared the engine (verifying full engine power was available) at least one time during the descent. He approached the runway and lowered 10 degrees of flaps while on a short base leg of the traffic pattern. The approach appeared normal to slightly high, and on short final (about 100 feet above touchdown zone elevation), the flight encountered a very strong and turbulent gust that necessitated immediate full power. He applied power and the engine hesitated or stumbled. He removed carburetor heat application and pushed forward on the throttle and mixture controls. Thereafter, he pumped the throttle control in an effort to restore engine power which was unsuccessful. He maneuvered the airplane to a clear space and landed in a wooded area. Inspection of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector following recovery of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. A surface observation weather report approximately 17 minutes before the accident, indicated the temperature and dew point were 18 and 13 degrees Celsius respectively, (64 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit). According to a FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) CE-09-35, dated June 30, 2009, the temperature and dew point were favorable for serious icing at glide power.
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
- Simulated/training event during maneuvering
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Powerplant parameters › Incorrect use/operation
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,748 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,854 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 29, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 38 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,272 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N23 Sidney NY at 7:45 pm
- Destination: K23 Cooperstown NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,337 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from RME, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.