20010814022319A

Accident · No damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 150M · August 14, 2001

Date: August 14, 2001 · 15:55 local
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: No damage
Aircraft: N63351
NTSB investigation: NTSBIAD01FA097
Reported as: Cessna 150M

N63351Registration cancelled Mar 4, 2002 · Cessna 150MS/N 15077256 · Built 1975 Airframe modelCessna 150M Engine modelContinental 0-200 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On August 14 at approximately 1630, I was notified by the region that an aircraft had crash-landed outside harrisonburg, VA, off route 33. Upon arrival at the crash site at approximately 2000 hours, it was discovered that a Cessna 150M, N63351, used for flight instruction, had struck a tree an upon impact the flight instructor and student were killed. Further investigation the next day disclosed that the aircraft engine had a history of fouling the spark plugs. Also disclosed was that the flight instructor liked to show or teach students how to recover from spins and he would often power spin an aircraft with a student in the same area as the accident. Discovered on the 15th was an eye witness who stated he saw the aircraft spinning to the ground. No defect was discovered with the flight controls. The NTSB was removing the engine for inspection.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON AUGUST 14 AT APPROXIMATELY 1630, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE REGION THAT AN AIRCRAFT HAD CRASH-LANDED OUTSIDE HARRISONBURG, VA, OFF ROUTE 33. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE CRASH SITE AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 HOURS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A CESSNA 150M, N63351, USED FOR FLIGHT INSTRUCTION, HAD STRUCK A TREE AN UPON IMPACT THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT WERE KILLED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE NEXT DAY DISCLOSED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE HAD A HISTORY OF FOULING THE SPARK PLUGS. ALSO DISCLOSED WAS THAT THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR LIKED TO SHOW OR TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO RECOVER FROM SPINS AND HE WOULD OFTEN POWER SPIN AN AIRCRAFT WITH A STUDENT IN THE SAME AREA AS THE ACCIDENT. DISCOVERED ON THE 15TH WAS AN EYE WITNESS WHO STATED HE SAW THE AIRCRAFT SPINNING TO THE GROUND. NO DEFECT WAS DISCOVERED WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE NTSB WAS REMOVING THE ENGINE FOR INSPECTION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB IAD01FA097Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportMcgaheysville, VAThe flight instructor's failure to recover from a spin for undetermined reasons.Aug 14, 2001 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N63351 · 1

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

Accident 19840818075789ATo Aborted (Fixed Wing) · Claremont, NHAborted third solo takeoff when aircraft began to veer to edge of runway. Lost control and ran into parked aircraftAug 18, 1984 · Substantial damage