20040801018789A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 150C · Mazama, WA · August 1, 2004

Date: August 1, 2004 · 14:30 local
Place: Mazama, WA
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7815Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA04LA134
Reported as: Cessna 150C
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 180 total110 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N7815ZRegistration cancelled May 2, 2007 · Cessna 150CS/N 15059915 · Built 1963 Airframe modelCessna 150C 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) Aircraft departed lost river airport, a gravel-strip at 2415 feet elevation, and length of 3150 feet. Temperature was reported to be 92 degrees, with 23% humidity and wind at about 6 knots. Aircraft was unable to climb enough to safely clear terrain, and pilot was forced to land aircraft in creekbed located about 150 yards from end of the runway, causing substantial damage to aircraft. Density altitude factors are a major consideration in this accident, with possible downdrafts and/or wind a possible influence.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED LOST RIVER AIRPORT, A GRAVEL-STRIP AT 2415 FEET ELEVATION, AND LENGTH OF 3150 FEET. TEMPERATURE WAS REPORTED TO BE 92 DEGREES, WITH 23% HUMIDITY AND WIND AT ABOUT 6 KNOTS. AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB ENOUGH TO SAFELY CLEAR TERRAIN, AND PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND AIRCRAFT IN CREEKBED LOCATED ABOUT 150 YARDS FROM END OF THE RUNWAY, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT. DENSITY ALTITUDE FACTORS ARE A MAJOR CONSIDERATION IN THIS ACCIDENT, WITH POSSIBLE DOWNDRAFTS AND/OR WIND A POSSIBLE INFLUENCE.

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 SEA04LA134Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportMazama, WAThe pilot's inadequate compensation for the weather conditions and his failure to maintain the initial takeoff climb, which resulted in a collision with trees during an emergency landing. Contributing factors were the unfavorable wind and high density…Aug 1, 2004 · Substantial damage