Moorhead Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Northeast, Pennsylvania 16428
Friday, August 25, 1989 19:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE LEFT SEAT PILOT WAS PREPARING FOR HIS BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. AFTER TAKEOFF, AT 800FT AGL, THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT INDUCED A POWER LOSS USING THE MIXTURE. WHEN THE MIXTURE WAS RETURNED TO RICH BY THE RIGHT SEAT PILOT, THE PILOT IN THE LEFT SEAT PUMPED THE THROTTLE. POWER WAS NOT REGAINED AND AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING WAS MADE IN A GRAPE VINEYARD. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION SHOWED THE ENGINE WOULD RUN O.K. AT FULL POWER. HOWEVER, IF A MIXTURE CUT WAS ALLOWED TO DROP BELOW 1500 RPM, IT WOULD NOT RECOVER WHEN THE MIXTURE WAS PUT BACK TO RICH. THE EXHAUST STACKS EXHIBITED EXTREME RICH MIXTURE BURN COLOR. THE CARB FLOAT LEVEL OR METERING JETS MAY HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOLERANCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A POWER LOSS DUE TO AN OVER-RICH ENGINE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE COMBINATION OF AN OVER-RICH RUNNING ENGINE AND THE PILOT'S PUMPING OF THE THROTTLE DURING THE RECOVERY ATTEMPT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FLOOD.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/25/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NORTHEAST
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16428
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MOORHEAD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PAV8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 805
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1774
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 25 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2049
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40831
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50294
NTSB Number NYC89LA202
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 150H
Aircraft Series Identifier 150H
Aircraft Serial Number 15069204
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2880
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MOORHEADVILLE FLYING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address C/O TOM ZANWISTOSKI
Aircraft Owner City ERIE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 16504
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1940
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Landing
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 --