Cessna 150H accident near Twentynine Palm, California, December 3, 2002
On December 3, 2002 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N50346, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twentynine Palm, California (Twentynine Palms Airport). It was an instructional 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
The improper use of carburetor heat, and the instructor's inadequate supervision which resulted in a 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
- December 3, 2002 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Twentynine Palm, California · Twentynine Palms Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N50346 · no longer on the register · serial 15069243
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb and impacted terrain during a forced landing. After completing two uneventful landings, the student pilot input full throttle and began the third takeoff of the day. Over halfway down the runway, about 75 feet above ground level, the student told the CFI that he did not think the engine was developing full power. The CFI took over the controls and confirmed that the partial power condition. While attempting a soft field landing, the nose landing gear impacted a bush and the airplane nosed over. Temperatures were obtained from a weather reporting station located 14 miles west-northwest of the airport. At 1855, the temperature was 52 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 32 degrees Fahrenheit. At 2000, the temperature was 48 degrees Fahrenheit and the dew point was 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperatures and dew points were applied to an industry standard Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, and both were within the "serious icing at glide power" portion of the chart.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,383 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 143 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 2,271 as pilot in command; 608 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 4, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2002; 24 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: TNP Twentynine Palm CA at 3:00 am
- Destination: TNP
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,531 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from KNXP, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.