Event ANC07LA058

Factual narrative

On June 28, 2007, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 150 airplane, N66655, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees following a loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb from the Chena Marina Airport, about 3 miles southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight review under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot/owner and the certificated flight instructor, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 28, the owner reported that he was seated in the left seat, and the flight instructor was in the right seat, and the accident takeoff was the initial flight portion of the flight review. The owner said that about 50 feet agl, the engine began to lose power, and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. He relinquished the flight controls to the flight instructor, who then selected a forced landing area on a road. The airplane struck several trees before colliding with the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), Fairbanks, responded to the scene, conducted an examination of the airplane, and interviewed the two pilots. On June 29, the inspector reported that the airplane owner was utilizing auto fuel, and departed with about 27 gallons of fuel. His calculation of the airplane's gross weight at the time of the accident indicated the airplane was about 70 pounds over its maximum limit of 1,600 pounds. The flight instructor submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1). In the section of the report titled: "How could this accident have been prevented," the instructor wrote, "No excuse for weight/balance." On July 12, the inspector examined the engine at a maintenance facility, and found that the number one cylinder had no compression. The number one cylinder exhaust valve was stuck in the open position. The private certificated pilot/owner, along with a flight instructor, departed on the initial portion of a CFR Part 91 flight review. The airplane engine began to lose power about 50 feet agl, and would not maintain altitude. A forced landing area was selected on a road, but the airplane struck several trees before colliding with the ground. An FAA inspector reported that an examination of the engine disclosed that the number 1 cylinder had no compression because the exhaust valve was stuck in the open position, resulting in a substantial loss of engine power. Additionally, the inspector found that the airplane was about 70 pounds over its maximum gross weight, reducing its climb performance. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12