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May 17, 1987 · Cessna 150J · N50499

Neillsville, WI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 17, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Neillsville, WI
Aircraft
Cessna 150J
Tail Number
N50499
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI87LA131

A STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE ON A DUAL X-COUNTRY FLT FM ELROY TO NEILLSVILLE & RTRN. THE FLT TO NEILLSVILLE WAS UNEVENTFULL. AFTER THE ACFT WAS ON THE GND APRX 20 MIN, HOT STARTING PROCEDURES WERE USED TO START THE ENG FOR THE RTRN FLT. ENG RUNUP & TAKEOFF WERE NORMAL UNTIL THE ACFT WAS APRX 150 FT AGL, THEN THE ENG LOST PWR. THE CFI TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT & ATMTD A RESTART WHILE PUMPING THE THROTTLE. HE TURNED RGT ABOUT 30 DEG FOR AN EMERG LNDG. DRG THE LNDG, THE ACFT HIT THE TOPS OF SMALL TREES, ENCOUNTERED SOFT DIRT & NOSED OVER. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT BEGAN BURNING & WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.DRG THE INVESTIGATION, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT BELIEVED THE LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO A VAPOR LOCK, BUT THIS WAS NOT VERIFIED. THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT HAD BEEN SVCD WITH A 50/50 MIXTURE OF 100 OCTANE LOW LEAD FUEL & NO-LEAD AUTO FUEL. LYCOMING SVC INSTRN #1070K DID NOT PERMIT THE USE OF AUTO FUEL DUE TO ITS CORROSIVE EFFECT & BECAUSE OF VAPOR LOCK THAT COULD RESULT FM ITS HI VAPOR PRESSURE.

Full Narrative

A STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE ON A DUAL X-COUNTRY FLT FM ELROY TO NEILLSVILLE & RTRN. THE FLT TO NEILLSVILLE WAS UNEVENTFULL. AFTER THE ACFT WAS ON THE GND APRX 20 MIN, HOT STARTING PROCEDURES WERE USED TO START THE ENG FOR THE RTRN FLT. ENG RUNUP & TAKEOFF WERE NORMAL UNTIL THE ACFT WAS APRX 150 FT AGL, THEN THE ENG LOST PWR. THE CFI TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT & ATMTD A RESTART WHILE PUMPING THE THROTTLE. HE TURNED RGT ABOUT 30 DEG FOR AN EMERG LNDG. DRG THE LNDG, THE ACFT HIT THE TOPS OF SMALL TREES, ENCOUNTERED SOFT DIRT & NOSED OVER. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT BEGAN BURNING & WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE.DRG THE INVESTIGATION, NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT BELIEVED THE LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO A VAPOR LOCK, BUT THIS WAS NOT VERIFIED. THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT HAD BEEN SVCD WITH A 50/50 MIXTURE OF 100 OCTANE LOW LEAD FUEL & NO-LEAD AUTO FUEL. LYCOMING SVC INSTRN #1070K DID NOT PERMIT THE USE OF AUTO FUEL DUE TO ITS CORROSIVE EFFECT & BECAUSE OF VAPOR LOCK THAT COULD RESULT FM ITS HI VAPOR PRESSURE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:30 CDT
Nearest AirportNeillsville Muni (5nm SE)
Runway9
Runway Length3000 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150J
Tail NumberN50499
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 71 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 8 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data