Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Inyokern, California 93527
Wednesday, December 6, 1989 8:05 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS CONDUCTING AN AERIAL SURVEILLANCE OF HIKING TRAILS FROM ABOUT 200' AGL AND THAT HE WAS USING A SLOW CRUISE POWER SETTING OF 2000 RPM. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 35 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE NEAREST WEATHER REPORTING FACILITY LOCATED ABOUT 7 MILES EAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED THE DEW POINT AT 28 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. AFTER FLYING AT SLOW CRUISE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING IN CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE CARBURETOR HEAT WHEN CLIMATIC CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/6/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 805
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City INYOKERN
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93527
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 12
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 800 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID NID
Elevation of weather observation facility 2283
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2300
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 11 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42372
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 N4390U
NTSB Number LAX90LA049
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 150D
Aircraft Series Identifier 150D
Aircraft Serial Number 15060390
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ANDERSON AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1977 E. DOLPHIN
Operator City RIDGECREST
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93555
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code IYK
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 740
Departure Time Zone PST
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --