Cessna 150J accident near Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania, May 5, 2001
On May 5, 2001 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N51104, was substantially damaged in an accident near Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania (Sankey Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial power loss due to a stuck exhaust valve in the # 2 cylinder, which resulted in a forced landing. A factor was the rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2001 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania · Sankey Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N51104 · registry record · serial 15069768
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a local personal flight when the engine began to run rough. He was unable to correct the roughness with the mixture or the use of carburetor heat. He performed a forced landing in a field with rising terrain. The nose wheel dug in and the airplane nosed over. Subsequent examination of the engine found the # 2 exhaust valve stuck open.
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: 316 hours in all; 213 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 245 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,544.0 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 2000; 19 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: 1PS4 Osceola Mills PA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 1PS4 Osceola Mills PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from FIG, 10 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.