Mojave Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mojave, California 93501
Wednesday, April 17, 1996 9:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot descended into the airport traffic pattern from 4,200 feet AGL with the engine idled, mixture rich, and carburetor heat on. When engine power was added to adjust the landing approach, the engine failed to respond. Because of high surface winds, the pilot was unable to glide to the runway and an off-airport landing was made and the aircraft nosed over. Inspection of the engine revealed carbon buildup under the intake and exhaust valves and low compression. After staking the valves compression returned to normal. The second pilot said they had not cleared the engine during the descent as required by the engine Operator's Manual.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to clear the engine during an idle power descent, as required by the engine manual.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/17/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MOJAVE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93501
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MOJAVE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MHV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 90
Airport Elevation 2787
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 915 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID MHV
Elevation of weather observation facility 2787
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 290
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 19 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 810
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:57AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6466G
NTSB Number LAX96LA173
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150K
Aircraft Series Identifier 150K
Aircraft Serial Number 15071966
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 11 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 4458
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SEAN ROBERTS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1030 FLIGHTLINE AVE.
Aircraft Owner City MOJAVE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93501
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MHV
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 845
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 7040
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --