# Accident 19990820013149A: Cessna 150L, Garrett, IN, August 20, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 20, 1999, 17:00 local time
- Place: Garrett, IN
- Airport: Shenk Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3396° N, 85.1205° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3396&lon=-85.1205&mi=10
- Aircraft: N161BA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N161BA-2013-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150L (registry code 2071826, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Reported engine: CONT O200A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 308 total, 67 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA307) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990820013149A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF ON A GRASS RWY AT SHENK ARPT WHEN THE WING TIP STRUCK A TREE, AND THE ACFT TURNED AND CAME TO REST IN THE MIDDLE OF A POND. (.4)THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED 50 FOOT TALL TREES AND CAME TO REST IN A POND DURING THE INITAL TAKEOFF CLIMB FROM A GRASS AIRSTRIP.  THE PILOT REPORTED HE LANDED AT THE AIRSTRIP TO PRACTICE A SHORT/SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF.  THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES LOCATED ABOUT 800 FEET FROM THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP.  THE PILOT HAD FLOWN INTO THE AIRSTRIP IN THE PAST WHEN IT WAS 2,000 FEET LONG.  THE LENGTH OF THE AIRSTRIP HAD BEEN SHORTENED TO 1,500 FEET BY THE PLANTING OF A CORN CROP.  THE PILOT WAS UNAWARE THAT THE AIRSTRIP HAD BEEN SHORTENED.  THERE WAS AN 'X' AT EACH END OF THE AIRSTRIP SIGNIFYING THAT IT WAS CLOSED AND THE GRASS WAS 4 TO 6 INCHES TALL.  THE CHICAGO SECTIONAL AERONAUTICAL CHART,  58TH EDITION, INDICATES THE LENGTH OF THE AIRSTRIP IS 2,000.                                                          (-23)SEE CHI99LA307

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI99LA307](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA307), Aug 20, 1999: Cessna 150L (N161BA), Garrett, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper inflight planning/decision to land and takeoff on the airstrip which was unsuitable and closed, and the pilot's failure to attain clearance with the trees during the takeoff…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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