Cessna 150L accident near Fruitland Park, Florida, February 18, 2006
On February 18, 2006 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N5262Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fruitland Park, Florida. 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
The fatigue failure of the No. 4 cylinder resulting in a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2006 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fruitland Park, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N5262Q · registry record · serial 15073162
- 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 after takeoff the flight proceeded to a location called the "Villages" then he made a right turn and elected to return to the departure airport. He reported that he was on the west side of Lake Griffin and approximately 3 miles from the destination airport when the engine began to run rough. He reduced throttle control but the engine continued to run rough. He checked the magnetos and verified the mixture control was full rich which had no effect. He discontinued the approach and began a right descending turn not wanting to fly over the lake. He noted that something inside the engine compartment hit the engine cowling, and he looked for a place to land. He banked to the right and after spotting an opening, he lowered the flaps but overshot the intended landing area. While descending he noted a telephone pole straight ahead and applied left rudder to avoid the pole but the right wing collided with the pole. The head of the No. 4 cylinder separated from the barrel due to fatigue cracking. A review of the maintenance records revealed that the engine was overhauled on November 2, 1993. On June 1, 1999, the No. 4 cylinder was removed, repaired, and installed. The No. 4 cylinder had accumulated 1,076.9 hours since installation after repair.
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: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,049.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2005; 22.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 0-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLEE Leesburg FL at 9:45 pm
- Destination: KLEE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KLEE
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.
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.