Cessna 150G accident near Doylestown, Pennsylvania, January 1, 2010
On January 1, 2010 at about 4:08 pm local time, a Cessna 150G, registered N4026J, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Doylestown, Pennsylvania (Doylestown Airport). 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
A partial loss of engine power 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
- January 1, 2010 · about 4:08 pm local time
- Place
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania · Doylestown Airport · 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
- N4026J · no longer on the register · serial 15065326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident flight was the first flight since an overhauled engine was installed. The pilot performed an engine run-up before takeoff and noted no discrepancies. During the initial climb, between 50 and 75 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot executed a forced landing into a field; the airplane came to rest upright and there were no injuries to the pilot or passenger. Postaccident inspection of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were favorable for serious carburetor ice at cruise 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
- Fuel related during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 19, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,275 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 2009; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DYL Doylestown PA at 4:06 pm
- Destination: DYL Doylestown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 3,004 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from DYL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.