Cessna 150 accident near Fayetteville, West Virginia, September 10, 2010
On September 10, 2010 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N7922E, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Fayetteville, West Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to the failure of the left magneto system’s distributor gear as a result of the improper maintenance of the magnetos by maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 2010 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fayetteville, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N7922E · no longer on the register · serial 17722
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the initial climb the airplane engine's rpm gauge indicated 1900 and the airplane would not gain altitude which resulted in a forced landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed fuel in the fuel tanks and carburetor system. All cylinders had compression when checked. The right magneto developed sparks to all corresponding plugs. The left magneto produced spark to one plug only. A teardown examination of the left magneto revealed the distributor gear had 12 gear teeth sheared from the disk. Review of the engine's maintenance records showed that the ignition system had several inspections as required by airworthiness directives and service bulletins (SB) throughout its time in service. The distributor gear was required to be replaced with a redesigned gear as outlined in SB658; however, both magnetos had the old-style distributor gear, dating to before 1978. Additionally, the gear tooth separation was noted starting and ending at the magneto timing block location marker. The manufacturer of the magneto warned not to use a gear holding tool during installation, which may cause hidden damage to the distributor gear and subsequent engine failure.
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
- 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 emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 21,645 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 5, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Crew member
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,587 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 2010; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WV59 Fayetteville WV at 1:45 pm
- Destination: 0A4 Johson City TN
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from KBKW, 14 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.