Cessna A150K accident near Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, February 6, 2001
On February 6, 2001 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna A150K, registered N5915J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. 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
The failure of the pilot to use carburetor heat during descent resulting in loss of engine power due to carburetor icing and the airplane colliding with a fence and nosing over during a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 2001 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A150K · all A150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N5915J · no longer on the register · serial A1500215
- 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 he and the passenger planned to take pictures of some property. They arrived over the area at 1,500 feet and then descended to 1,000 feet. When the property was located, he reduced engine power to a minimum and descended to 600 feet. When level at 600 feet, the airplane would not maintain altitude. He applied full engine power and the engine did not obtain power and the airplane continued to descend. The airplane touched down in a clear area and collided with a fence at which time it nosed over. Post crash examination of the airplane and engine by an FAA inspector showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction. The pilot stated he did not use carburetor heat for the descent. A carburetor icing probability chart showed the airplane was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 440 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 366 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 13, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,805 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 2000; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSE Ponce PR at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 14 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from PSE, 30 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N5915J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.