20041020032259A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 150M · Ashley, ND · October 20, 2004

Date: October 20, 2004 · 19:30 local
Place: Ashley, ND
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N63439
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI05LA012
Reported as: Cessna 150M
Reported engine: Continental O200*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N63439Registration cancelled Jan 12, 2018 · Cessna 150MS/N 15077315 · 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) The fatally injured pilot of this aircraft was conducting the flight in accordance with 14 CFR part 91, on a flight from bemidji, MN to an unknown destination in south dakota. Damage to the aircraft is consistent with spatial disorientation and loss of control of the aircraft. A fire ensued subsequent to the crash. The aircraft wreckage was contained in diameter of no more than 100 feet. Witnesses reported the weather as "low ceilings and strong winds with some mist." One witness reported seeing an aircraft that was "flying very low and the engine sounded like it was really winding." This witness was located some 8 to 10 miles northeast of the crash site. It could not be ascertained if this was the accident aircraft, but the sighting was within a few minutes of the estimated time of the crash.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE FATALLY INJURED PILOT OF THIS AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING THE FLIGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH 14 CFR PART 91, ON A FLIGHT FROM BEMIDJI, MN TO AN UNKNOWN DESTINATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT IS CONSISTENT WITH SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FIRE ENSUED SUBSEQUENT TO THE CRASH. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS CONTAINED IN DIAMETER OF NO MORE THAN 100 FEET. WITNESSES REPORTED THE WEATHER AS "LOW CEILINGS AND STRONG WINDS WITH SOME MIST." ONE WITNESS REPORTED SEEING AN AIRCRAFT THAT WAS "FLYING VERY LOW AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS REALLY WINDING." THIS WITNESS WAS LOCATED SOME 8 TO 10 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE CRASH SITE. IT COULD NOT BE ASCERTAINED IF THIS WAS THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT, BUT THE SIGHTING WAS WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THE ESTIMATED TIME OF THE CRASH.

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 CHI05LA012Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAshley, NDThe non-instrument rated pilot's continued flight into known adverse weather conditions and his not maintaining aircraft control during cruise flight. Factors present were the night condition and low ceilings.Oct 21, 2004 · Destroyed

Other reports on N63439 · 2

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

Incident 19801217087689IClimb · Columbus, INForced landing after power loss. Cause undermined.Dec 17, 1980 Accident 19760420008189ALevel Off Touchdown · Norfolk, MAApr 20, 1976 · Reported as Cessna A150K · Substantial damage