Cessna 150L N6589G accident near Lake Alfred, Florida

Probable cause

A loss of engine power during the landing approach for undetermined reasons.

NTSB analysis

While turning from the base leg to the final leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane's engine lost partial power. The student pilot increased the throttle setting and the engine maintained that power setting for about 20 seconds before losing power completely. The certificated flight instructor assumed authority over the airplane's controls and performed a forced landing to a field near the airport. During the landing roll, the nosewheel encountered rough terrain and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector drained approximately four gallons of fuel from the left wing tank and gascolator at the accident site. A detailed examination of the engine by two FAA inspectors revealed no evidence of any preexisting anomalies or malfunctions. While a review of the carburetor icing probability chart showed that the aircraft was operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, the pilots reported using carburetor heat for the approach to land.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10LA184 for the full record.