Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Greene, Iowa 50636
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 14:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The recently certificated private pilot reduced the engine power setting and descended to an altitude of 800 to 1,000 feet above the ground so the passenger could take aerial photographs of a farm house. The pilot stated that he had the power setting pulled back approximately halfway while they were circling and that the engine seized when he attempted to apply full power to gain altitude. The airplane landed hard during the off-airport forced landing on a snow-covered farm field. The airplane sustained firewall damage when the nose gear collapsed following a 75-foot-long landing roll. The pilot stated that he did not use carburetor heat while circling. Postaccident inspection revealed the engine turned freely when rotated by hand and when the ignition was engaged. Examination of the spark plugs revealed they were black in color from soot.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the rough, snow-covered terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/31/2008
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Greene
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50636
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424431N
Event Location Longitude 0923029W
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID ALO
Elevation of weather observation facility 873
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 28
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24990
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 27 2009 3:53PM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N899CB
NTSB Number CEN09CA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15076699
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Dec 17 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 6098
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CEDAR VALLEY AVIATION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1710 35TH ST NW
Aircraft Owner City WAVERLY
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50677-9501
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Kevin E. Brown
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Greene
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
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 --
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 No
Departure Airport Code C25
Departure City Waverly
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code C25
Destination City Waverly
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 11 2009 8:10AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --