Cessna 150F accident near Ronan, Montana, June 6, 2014
On June 6, 2014 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 150F, registered N3376B, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ronan, Montana (Ronan airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined due to insufficient evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2014 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ronan, Montana · Ronan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F, built 1966 · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3376B · no longer on the register · serial 15062625
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on the cross-country flight with a planned touch-and-go landing at an intermediate airport about 8 miles from the origination airport. The pilot reported that he applied carburetor heat for the approach and landing at the intermediate airport. After touchdown, in accordance with the operating procedures, the pilot retracted the flaps, shut off the carburetor heat, and applied full throttle for the takeoff and climbout. The engine began to lose power when the airplane had gained about 350 ft; the pilot reported that the low altitude prevented him from conducting any emergency procedures except to select an emergency landing location in a field. He did not apply carburetor heat or extend the flaps. The airplane struck a berm in the field, which caused it to nose over inverted and resulted in substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the engine initially revealed incomplete valve seating in one of the forward-most cylinders. Once the valves were staked, the valve seating was normal, so the initial abnormality was attributed to impact. The engine examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical anomalies or deficiencies that would have resulted in the loss of power. Although carburetor icing envelope charts indicated the possibility of carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot's use of carburetor heat on the approach, the loss of power with the throttle set at takeoff power, and the ambient conditions were all consistent with a low likelihood of carburetor icing. Because detailed postaccident examination was limited to the engine, the investigation was unable to eliminate the possibility that an airframe or carburetor fuel delivery problem or water contamination of the fuel resulted in the engine power loss.
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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 68 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 19, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,231 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 4,231 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7S0 Ronan MT at 7:15 pm
- Destination: S52 St Ignatius MT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 165° at 2 knots
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 7:21 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.