Cessna 150M accident near Crystal River, Florida, March 25, 1991
On March 25, 1991 at about 11:09 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704SN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crystal River, Florida (Crystal River airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF POWER BECAUSE OF OIL PUMP FAILURE DUE TO CONTAMINATION. UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL PERFORMED A COMPONENT CHANGE WITHOUT USING APPROPRIATE PUBLICATIONS AND PROCEDURES AND FAILED TO CLEAN CONTAMINANTS FROM THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 1991 · about 11:09 pm local time
- Place
- Crystal River, Florida · Crystal River
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704SN · no longer on the register · serial 15078839
- 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 WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE STARTED TO DROP FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO THE TREES. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OIL SCREEN AND PUMP WERE CONTAMINATED AND DAMAGED BY METAL PARTICLES SIMILAR TO STARTER CLUTCH NEEDLE BEARINGS. THE LAST TIME A CLUTCH WAS REPLACED ON THIS ENGINE WAS BEFORE THE CURRENT OWNER HAD KNOWLEDGE OF IT.
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: 81 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 58 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,915 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 19, 1991; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Crystal River Aero Group
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:55 pm from TLH, 31 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.
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.