Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 19, 2016 · Cessna 150 M · N9230U

Littleton, MA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 19, 2016
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Littleton, MA
Aircraft
Cessna 150 M (1976)
Tail Number
N9230U
Operator
Aptis Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA16LA300

The student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight and filled the airplane's fuel tanks before departing on the first leg of the flight. While descending from 4,500 ft mean sea level approaching the destination airport, engine power decreased from 2,500 to 1,300 rpm. The student advanced the mixture to full rich and applied carburetor heat; however, there was no change in engine performance. Soon after, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the student performed a forced landing to a field. About 10 gallons of fuel were drained from the airplane during recovery. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunction or abnormalities. A review of a carburetor icing chart revealed that the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to icing at glide and cruise power; however, since engine performance did not improve after the application of carburetor heat, it is unlikely that the loss of engine power was the result of carburetor ice.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power during descent for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Full Narrative

On August 19, 2016, at 1349 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N9230U, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing near Littleton, Massachusetts. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the solo instructional flight that was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed from Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine, with the intended destination of Minute Man Air Field (6B6), Stow, Massachusetts.According to the student pilot, he was on a solo cross-country flight and topped-off the fuel tanks with 100 low lead aviation fuel prior to departing on the first leg of the flight. He departed 6B6, landed at Laconia Municipal Airport (LCI), Laconia, New Hampshire, and then continued to SFM. After departing SFM, while in a cruise descent from 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl) on a 4 mile straight-in approach to runway 21 to 6B6, the engine lost partial power when the rpm decreased from 2,500 to 1,300 rpm around 2,500 feet msl. The student thought he could make it to the runway, but then began searching for a field to perform a forced landing. He located a field, turned toward it, and then began troubleshooting the engine. The student pilot advanced the mixture to full rich and applied carburetor heat; however, there was no change in the engine performance. As he was about to turn onto the final leg of the traffic pattern to the field, about 800 feet msl, the engine lost total power. The pilot landed the airplane in the selected field, which was about 300 feet msl, it impacted a stone wall and trees, and then came to rest in the upright position. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot received his student pilot certificate in September 2014. His most recent third-class medical certificate was issued on September 18, 2014. At the time of the accident, he had accumulated 73 hours of total flight time, of which 51 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane and 11 hours were as pilot-in-command. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the airplane was manufactured in 1976, issued an airworthiness certificate in May 2015, and was registered a flight school. In addition, it was equipped with a Lycoming O-200 series, 100-horsepower engine. According to the flight instructor, a 100-hour inspection was performed on the airplane August 4, 2016, at a total time of 8,216.4 hours, and a tach time of 969 hours. At the time of the accident, the tachometer indicated 986.8 hours. Examination of the airplane revealed that both wings were partially separated from the fuselage and the leading edges were impact damaged. The engine was examined and fuel was noted in the carburetor bowl. The fuel was free of water and debris. The rocker arm covers were removed and no anomalies were noted. Crankshaft and valve train continuity was confirmed from the propeller to the accessory section of the engine by rotating the propeller. In addition, evidence of compression was observed on all cylinders. The magnetos produced spark on all towers, the spark plugs exhibited normal wear, and were in "new condition." During the recovery, about 10 gallons of fuel were drained from the airplane. The reported weather around the time of the accident at Laurence G Hanscom Field (BED), Bedford, Massachusetts, which was located 10 miles east of the accident location, indicated wind from 330° at 4 knots, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 6,000 feet above ground level (agl), temperature 31° C, dew point 13° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury. The carburetor icing probability chart from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB): CE-09-35 Carburetor Icing Prevention, June 30, 2009, shows a probability of icing at glide and cruise power at the temperature and dew point reported at the time of the accident. According to the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report that was filed by the flight instructor, under the mechanical malfunction/failure section of the report it stated that the "engine fail[ed] due to carb[uretor] ice."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:49 EDT
Nearest AirportMinute Man Air Field (4nm NNE)
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150 M
Tail NumberN9230U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAptis Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · O-200-A-48 · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 18 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Observation Time17:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data