Cessna 150F accident near Arlington, Washington, June 3, 2001
On June 3, 2001 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N546M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Municipal 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 fire that originated in the aircraft's carburetor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2001 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N546M · no longer on the register · serial 15063137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board on June 5, the commercial pilot stated that when he attempted to start (first start of the day) the airplane's engine, "it started briefly and died." The pilot re-primed the engine and attempted another start without success. The pilot again primed the engine (for the third time) and engaged the starter. He reported that shortly after engaging the starter, smoke started coming from the engine compartment. He pulled the mixture and continued to crank the engine, however, the smoke continued. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane. Shortly after exiting the airplane, fire erupted in the cockpit and engine compartment. Post accident inspection of the airplane by personnel from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the primer line to the intake manifold was cracked, but still attached to the manifold. The ignition source for the fire could not be determined.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,025 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,078 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 2001; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AWO Arlington WA
- Destination: AWO Arlington WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from AWO
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.