Cessna 150L accident near Enterprise, Oregon, October 24, 1992
On October 24, 1992 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Cessna 150L, registered N16221, was substantially damaged in an accident near Enterprise, Oregon (Enterprise airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1992 · about 6:35 pm local time · cases in 1992
- Place
- Enterprise, Oregon · Enterprise · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N16221 · registry record · serial 15073553
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENTERED THE PATTERN FOR THE RUNWAY. CARB HEAT WAS APPLIED WHILE ON DOWNWIND. AS THE AIRPLANE WAS TURNING TO THE BASE LEG, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN APPRX 50 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT STATED TO AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE AIRPORT, THAT HE HAD LEANED THE MIXTURE FOR A HIGH ALTITUDE AIRPORT. POST-CRASH INSPECTION REVEALED THAT WHEN STARTED, THE ENGINE RAN NORMAL AT IDLE POWER FOR A SHORT PERIOD, THEN WAS SHUT DOWN DUE TO A BENT PROPELLER BLADE. THERE WERE NO NOTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 88 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 53 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,808 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 5, 1992; 102 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: TTD Troutdale OR at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 3, 2,833 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N16221 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 150 7,994 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental O-200A 297 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Enterprise Municipal · nearest airport
- Portland-Troutdale Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,008 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA93LA011.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.