# Accident 20010331007329A: Cessna 150L, Witnergreen, VA, March 31, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 31, 2001, 16:00 local time
- Place: Witnergreen, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.8002° N, 79.0100° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8002&lon=-79.0100&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5433Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5433Q-2002-01-08) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 160 total, 130 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC01LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA091) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010331007329A

## Narrative

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

(-23)AFTER DEPARTING SHD, THE PILOT FLEW INTO CLOUDS AND FOG AND BECAME DISORIENTED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMAIN IN VFR CONDITIONS. THE PILOT CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE WHILE TRYING TO CROSS A MOUNTAIN RIDGE.(.4) THE PILOT OBTAINED THREE WEATHER BRIEFINGS. DURING THE LAST BRIEFING, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED ABOUT 0845, HE WAS ADVISED OF MARGINAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULE CONDITIONS DEVELOPING ABOUT 1900, ALONG HIS RETURN ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT THEN DEPARTED AND FLEW TO SHD WITHOUT INCIDENT. ABOUT 1520 THE PILOT, WITHOUT GETTING AN UPDATED WEATHER BRIEFING, LOADED HIS PASSENGER AND DEPARTING FOR THE TRIP HOME. ABOUT 8 TO 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT STARTED TO ENCOUNTER DETERIORATING WEATHER. HE HAD VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, BUT REDUCED VISIBILITY FORWARD. ABOUT 3 MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT MADE A TURN TO THE WEST TO MAINTAIN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC). DURING THE TURN, THE PILOT LOST ALL OUTSIDE VISUAL REFERENCE. HE LEVELED THE WINGS AND STARTED A CLIMB. THE AIRPLANE RE ENTERED VMC SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, BUT WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO AVOID THE APPROACHING TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE THEN IMPACTED AN UNOCCUPIED HOUSE AND CAME TO A STOP.

## 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 NYC01LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA091), Mar 31, 2001: Cessna 150 (N5433Q), Wintergreen, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to continue the flight into deteriorating weather.

## Other reports on N5433Q (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19761208040019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761208040019A), Dec 8, 1976: Cessna 150L (N5433Q), Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. Lnd in desert.

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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