# Accident 20060904019179A: Cessna 150G, Penhook, VA, September 4, 2006 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 4, 2006, 11:34 local time - Place: Penhook, VA - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Normal Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 36.9489° N, 79.6094° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9489&lon=-79.6094&mi=10 - Aircraft: N2932J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2932J-2007-10-19) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 150G (registry code 2071816, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G - Reported engine: CONT O200A - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 2 - Pilot flight hours: 96 total, 96 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC06FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06FA215) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060904019179A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2006, THE PRIVATE PILOT ^PRIVACY DAT^ AND HIS WIFE DEPARTED SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE AIRPORT (W91), MONETA, VA, AT 1115 EDT IN N2932J, A 1966 CESSNA 150G AIRCRAFT. AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT MADE CONTACT WITH ROA ATC AND ASKED FOR FLIGHT FOLLOWING. WHILE ENROUTE AT AN UNKNOWN ALTITUDE HEADING TO FLORENCE REGIONAL AIRPORT (KFLO), FLORENCE, SC 202 SM SOUTH, THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED VFR PILOT (06-17-06) FLEW INTO IMC CONDITIONS. THE PILOT WAS HANDED OFF FROM ROA ATC TO WASHINGTON DC CENTER. AT 1131 EDT THE PILOT MADE CONTACT WITH WASHINGTON DC CENTER. SEVERAL WITNESSES IN PENNHOOK, VIRGINIA HEARD A LOUD "CLAP" AND SAW THE MAIN BODY OF THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING OUT OF THE CLOUDS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING BUT WITH THE WINGS DETACHED AT APPROXIMATELY 1134 EDT. THE FUSELAGE CAME TO REST IN SOFT WET WOODED TERRAIN ON A 10 DEGREE SLOPE AT AN ELEVATION OF 840 FT MSL. THE PILOT RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT ON 02-24-06, AND IT WAS REGISTERED WITH THE FAA ON 05-16-06. THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING THE INSTALLED LAP BELTS AND WERE FATALLY INJURED. A SMALL POST IMPACT FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE LOWER ENGINE COWL.(-23 AMENDMENT) ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2006, PRIVATE PILOT ^PRIVACY DAT^ AND HIS W IFE DEPARTED SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE AIRPORT (W91), MONETA, VA, AT 1115 EDT IN N2932J, A 1966 CESSNA 150G AIRCRAFT. AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT MADE CONTACT WITH ROA ATC AT 1200' AGL AND ASKED FOR FLIGHT FOLLOWING FOR 7500' TO FLORENCE REGIONAL AIRPORT (KFLO), FLORENCE, SC. WHILE ENROUTE AT AN UNKNOWN ALTITUDE HEADING THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED VFR PILOT FLEW INTO IMC CONDITIONS. THE PILOT WAS HANDED OFF FROM ROA ATC TO WASHINGTON DC CENTER AT 1131 EDT. THE PILOT MADE INITIAL CONTACT WITH WASHINGTON CENTER AT APPROXIMATELY 4500' AND SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOT ASKED THE CONTROLLER FOR A RADAR "VECTOR." WHEN QUERIED ABOUT THE REQUEST, THE PILOT RESPONDED, "WE'RE KINDA LOST IN SOME FOG HERE." THE CONTROLLER THEN ASKED THE PILOT TO STATE HIS PRESENT HEADING, TO WHICH THE PILOT REPLIED, "I CAN'T TELL, I THINK WE'RE UPSIDE-DOWN." THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO TURN RIGHT, AND 18 SECONDS LATER ADVISED THE PILOT TO STOP HIS TURN. ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER, AT 1132, THE PILOT STATED, "WE CAN'T SEE, WE CAN'T SEE, WE CAN'T SEE," AND TEN SECONDS LATER TRANSMITTED SOMETHING UNINTELLIGIBLE. NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVEED FROM THE PILOT, AND RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST SHORTLY THEREAFTER. SEVERAL W ITNESSES IN PENNHOOK, VIRGINIA HEARD A LOUD "CLAP" AND SAW THE MAIN BODY OF THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING OUT OF THE CLOUDS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING BUT THE WINGS DETACHED AT APPROXIMATELY 1133 EDT. THE FUSELAGE CAME TO REST IN SOFT WET WOODED TERRAIN ON A 10 DEGREE SLOPE AT AN ELEVATION OF 840 FT MSL. THE PILOT RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT ON 02-24-06, AND IT WAS REGISTERED WITH THE FAA ON 05-16-06. THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING THE INSTALLED LAP BELTS AND WERE FATALLY INJURED. A SMALL POST IMPACT FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE LOWER ENGINE COWL. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS REPORTED AT ROANOKE REGIONAL AIRPORT (ROA), ABOUT 26 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, AT 1154, INCLUDED WINDS FROM 150 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS, 3 STATUTE MILES VISIBILITY IN LIGHT RAIN AND MIST, SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 500 FEET, AN OVERCAST CEILING AT 700 FEET, TEMPERATURE 63 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, DEWPOINT 59 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND AN ALTIMETER SETTING OF 30.20 INCHES OF MERCURY. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS REPORTED AT LYNCHBURG REGIONAL AIRPORT (LYH), ABOUT 30 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, AT 1126, INCLUDED VARIABLE WINDS AT 3 KNOTS, 2 STATUTE MILES VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN AND MIST, FEW CLOUDS AT 1,100 FEET, AN OVERCAST CEILING AT 2,600 FEET, TEMPERATURE 63 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, DEWPOINT 59 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND AN ALTIMETER SETTING OF 30.19 INCHES OF MERCURY. AN AIRMET FOR IFR CONDITIONS WAS ISSUED ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE DEPARTED. IT WARNED OF OCCASIONAL CEILINGS BELOW 1,000 FEET, AND VISIBILITIES BELOW 3 STATUTE MILES DUE TO CLOUDS, PRECIPITATION, MIST, AND FOG, WITH THE CONDITIONS ENDING BETWEEN 1100 AND 1400. AN AIRMET FOR MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION WAS ALSO ISSUED AT THE SAME TIME THAT WARNED OF SIMILAR CONDITIONS CONTINUING BEYOND 1600 THROUGH 2200. A PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF FLIGHT SERVICE STATION DATA REVEALED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT CONTACT ANY FLIGHT SERVICE STATIONS OR THE DIRECT USER ACCESS TERMINAL SYSTEM (DUATS) TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING, OR FILE A FLIGHT PLAN, PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. ## 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 NYC06FA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06FA215), Sep 4, 2006: Cessna 150G (N2932J), Penhook, VA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during climb, which resulted in exceeding the design stress limits of the airplane, and an in-flight breakup. Factors associated with the accident… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.