Cessna 150H accident near College Place, Washington, April 24, 2011
On April 24, 2011 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 150H, registered N23295, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near College Place, Washington (Martin Field Airport). It was a personal 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 delayed use of carburetor heat while operating the airplane in atmospheric conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing during final approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2011 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- College Place, Washington · Martin Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N23295 · registry record · serial 15068855
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while on final approach, the engine rpm dropped and that the engine then lost power. He advanced the throttle, pushed in the carburetor heat control, and attempted to restart the engine, but engine power was not restored. He subsequently performed a forced landing to a road. During the landing, the airplane's right wing tip struck a sign and a mailbox, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar. After the forced landing, the pilot was able to restart the engine, and he then taxied the airplane back to the airport. The pilot reported no known mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane, and a postaccident examination of the carburetor found no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power. It is likely that the pilot's delayed use of carburetor heat resulted in the total loss of engine power due to the accumulation of carburetor icing.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 613 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 4.5 in the last 90 days; 2.7 in the last 30 days; 479 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 21, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,967 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 2010
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S95 College Place WA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: S95 College Place WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from ALW, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.