Cessna 150 accident near Poestenskill, New York, November 16, 1991
On November 16, 1991 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N50877, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poestenskill, New York (Rensselaer airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURATOR HEAT, RESULTING IN CARBURATOR ICE AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 1991 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Poestenskill, New York · Rensselaer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N50877 · registry record · serial 15069616
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE LOST POWER IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE FAA INSPECTOR WAS ABLE TO START AND RUN THE ENGINE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 46 DEGREES F AND THE DEW POINT WAS 29 DEGREES F. ACCORDING TO THE FAA CHART, THIS TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT COMBINATION MEETS THE CONDITIONS FAVORING FORMATION OF CARBURATOR ICING. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 128 HOURS WITH 11 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE.
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: student
- Flight time: 128 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 3.4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,079 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 17, 1991; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,675 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 22 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N50877 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.