Cessna 150 accident near Lockport, New York, March 17, 1998
On March 17, 1998 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N704GP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lockport, New York (North Buffalo Suburban 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
The pilot's misjudgment of altitude and distance during a forced landing in the traffic pattern. A factor in the accident was the carburetor icing conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 1998 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lockport, New York · North Buffalo Suburban · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N704GP · no longer on the register · serial 15078602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the airplane's engine experienced a decrease in RPM and began to run rough. The pilot added carburetor heat and the RPM increased. When the pilot removed the carburetor heat the engine began to run rough again, so he reapplied and maintained full carburetor heat. However, after a few moments, the engine began to run rough again. The pilot said he reached his destination airport at an altitude of about 2,500-2,600 feet and began a slow spiral to enter the traffic pattern at 1,400 feet. The engine began to run rougher while in the traffic pattern and the engine lost power during the final approach. The airplane crashed about 1/2 mile from the approach end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact failures of the airframe or engine. The temperature and dewpoint reported at airports about 10 miles south, and about 45 miles east of the accident site, were 37 and 18 degrees F; and 43 and 21 degrees F, respectively . A carburetor icing probability chart was reviewed and revealed that the weather conditions were at the lower limit of the 'Icing- Glide and Cruise Power' area of the chart.
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: 775 hours in all; 567 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 666 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,928 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1997; 34 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: 0G0 Lockport NY at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,830 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from BUF, 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.