Cessna 150 accident near Red Rock, Arizona, November 13, 2019
On November 13, 2019 at about 7:15 am local time, a 1976 Cessna 150, registered N704QJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Red Rock, Arizona (Pinal Airpark 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
A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper use of carburetor heat.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2019 · about 7:15 am local time
- Place
- Red Rock, Arizona · Pinal Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 M, built 1976 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N704QJ · no longer on the register · serial 15078787
- 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 he recently purchased the airplane, and the accident flight was a familiarization flight. After taking off, he conducted some maneuvers before proceeding to another airport to perform a touch-and-go landing. About 6 miles away from the airport, he reduced the power setting to about 1,900 rpm and started the descent to land; about 1 mile from the airport, he reduced power to 1,500 rpm, and then idle on final approach. He stated that he applied carburetor heat about halfway to reduce its effect on engine performance. During takeoff following the touch-and-go landing, the airplane started to shake, and about 1,500 ft above the ground, the engine lost total power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field; during which the nose landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage. About 8 gallons of fuel was drained from the airplane during recovery. The engine was rotated by hand at the propeller, and internal continuity and cylinder compression was confirmed. The atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at glide power settings. Given that the pilot extended the carburetor heat control only halfway, the heat applied was likely insufficient to prevent the formation of carburetor ice during the reduced power descent toward the airport, and the subsequent total loss of power was the result 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
- Fuel related during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 152 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 666 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 30, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 SERIES (piston); 72 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MZJ Marana AZ at 7:00 am
- Destination: GEU Glendale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,849 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 am from AVQ, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 25, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector Regarding Examination | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Email - Textron Representative | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N704QJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.