Cessna 150H accident near Northeast, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1989
On August 25, 1989 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N50294, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northeast, Pennsylvania (Moorhead airport). 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
A POWER LOSS DUE TO AN OVER-RICH ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE COMBINATION OF AN OVER-RICH RUNNING ENGINE AND THE PILOT'S PUMPING OF THE THROTTLE DURING THE RECOVERY ATTEMPT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FLOOD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1989 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Northeast, Pennsylvania · Moorhead · 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
- N50294 · no longer on the register · serial 15069204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LEFT SEAT PILOT WAS PREPARING FOR HIS BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 800FT AGL, THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT INDUCED A POWER LOSS USING THE MIXTURE. WHEN THE MIXTURE WAS RETURNED TO RICH BY THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT, THE PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT PUMPED THE THROTTLE. POWER WAS NOT REGAINED AND AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE IN A GRAPE VINEYARD. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION SHOWED THE ENGINE WOULD RUN O.K. AT FULL POWER. HOWEVER, IF A MIXTURE CUT WAS ALLOWED TO DROP BELOW 1500 RPM, IT WOULD NOT RECOVER WHEN THE MIXTURE WAS PUT BACK TO RICH. THE EXHAUST STACKS EXHIBITED EXTREME RICH MIXTURE BURN COLOR. THE CARB FLOAT LEVEL OR METERING JETS MAY HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOLERANCE.
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: 118 hours in all; 118 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 107 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,880 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 6, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Cont O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.