Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Livermore, California 94550
Thursday, June 4, 1998 15:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After performing air work, the instructor and student were returning to base. The instructor noted a loss of rpm's from 2,300 to 1,100. He took over the aircraft controls from the student and attempted to correct the problem. The instructor noted that the rpm's remained constant at 1,100. He conducted the emergency checklist and informed the tower of the situation. The instructor then landed the aircraft in an open field of high grass during which the aircraft came to rest inverted after the nose wheel struck a hole. The aircraft was examined on-scene and it was noted that the bolt was in place, but that the nut and cotter pin were missing from the carburetor throttle attachment assembly. It was also noted that the aircraft had flown approximately 15 hours since the last annual inspection and maintenance had been performed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The missing nut/cotter pin on the throttle attachment assembly which resulted in the pilot's inability to control engine power, and the hidden obstruction (hole) in the landing area. A factor was the high vegetation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/4/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City LIVERMORE
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94550
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 400
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID LVK
Elevation of weather observation facility 397
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1438
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 5 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N704ZA
NTSB Number LAX98LA182
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 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier 150M
Aircraft Serial Number 15078992
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 May 8 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 6500
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL ADAMS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6 LOCKSLEY AVE #8G
Aircraft Owner City SAN FRANCISCO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94122
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FLYING VIKINGS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 21593 SKYWEST DR.
Operator City HAYWARD
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 94541
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 HWD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1310
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 Cruise
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --