Event ANC96LA151

Factual narrative

On September 8, 1996, about 1745 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150 airplane, N7909Z, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing at the Willow Airport, Willow, Alaska. The solo private certificated pilot was not injured. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1645. During an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on September 10, the pilot related that she was practicing touch and go landings on runway 13 at the uncontrolled Willow Airport. During the initial climb following the (approximate) fourth takeoff, at an estimated altitude of 300 to 400 feet above the ground, the pilot reported the engine suddenly lost partial power, and then regained power quickly. The engine lost power once again, and then quit. The pilot said she was able to land on the overrun area near the south end of runway 13. The airplane rolled for a short distance in low brush and soft terrain, and then slowly nosed over. The pilot indicated the airplane had ample fuel, and that she had activated the carburetor heat on the downwind pattern leg when abeam the approach end of the runway. The airplane's engine was removed from the airframe and placed on a mobile engine stand at Alaska Aircraft Engines, Anchorage, Alaska. The engine was supplied with fresh gasoline and started. It started and ran without any observed anomalies. Present at the engine run were the NTSB investigator-in-charge, and Federal Aviation Administration inspector Craig Johnson. The pilot reported she was practicing touch and go landings at an uncontrolled, gravel airstrip. After the third or fourth touch and go, during the initial climb at an estimated altitude of 300 to 400 feet above the ground, the airplane's engine surged, lost partial power, and then quit. The pilot said she was able to land the airplane on the overrun area at the departure end of the airstrip, but could not stop it from entering low brush and soft terrain, where it nosed over. The pilot said the airplane had ample fuel, and that she had applied the carburetor heat while on downwind. The engine was removed from the airframe and placed on an engine test stand. It started and ran without any observed mechanical anomalies. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12