# Accident 20090705013319A: Cessna 150J, South Lake Tah, CA, July 5, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 5, 2009, 12:45 local time
- Place: South Lake Tah, CA
- Airport: Lake Tahoe
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8881° N, 119.9942° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8881&lon=-119.9942&mi=10
- Aircraft: N51172, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51172-2013-05-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150J (registry code 2071820, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J
- Reported engine: CONT O200A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09FA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA326) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090705013319A

## Narrative

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

(-23) SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AIRPORT IS SITUATED AT AN ELEVATION OF 6264 FT. WITH A TEMPERATURE 79 DEGREES F, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8691 FT, SECONDS AFTER LIFTING OFF FROM RUNWAY 18, THE CESSNA ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND IMPACTED TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT.  A WITNESS REPORTED THAT DURING THIS TIME, THE AIRPLANE WAS IN AN UNUSUALLY HIGH NOSE UP PITCH ATTITUDE.  NO EVIDENCE OF SMOKE WAS OBSERVED TRAILING FROM THE AIRPLANE.  THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE TURNED LEFT AND APPEARED TO ENTER A LEFT SPIN AS IT RAPIDLY DESCENDED FROM HIS VIEW.  THE WITNESS ALSO REPORTED HEARING THE ACCIDENT PILOT BROADCAST A "MAYDAY" CALL SECONDS PRIOR TO THE CRASH.

## 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 WPR09FA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA326), Jul 5, 2009: Cessna 150 (N51172), South Lake Tahoe, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to a malfunctioning carburetor and the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to return to the runway. Contributing to the accident was the…

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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