What happened
On 26 July 2023, a Cessna 150B was performing circuit patterns at the Alexandria Aerodrome in Ontario. The aircraft, which was privately registered, was carrying two pilots at the time of the accident.
During the initial stages of the flight, the aircraft suffered a partial reduction in engine power shortly after takeoff. In response to the power loss, the crew performed a 180-degree turn and attempted to restore power. While the aircraft initially regained altitude, the engine power dropped significantly a second time. This led to the aircraft entering a steep right bank and a steep nose-down attitude, ultimately resulting in a collision with the ground. The impact caused the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the event. The investigation focused on the sequence of engine power fluctuations and the subsequent flight path of the aircraft leading to the terrain impact.