20150912015149A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 150F · Atco, NJ · September 12, 2015

Date: September 12, 2015 · 11:19 local
Place: Atco, NJ
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N8185F
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA15FA352
Reported as: Cessna 150F
Reported engine: Continental 0-200 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 140 total

N8185FRegistration cancelled Mar 30, 2018 · Cessna 150FS/N 15064285 · Built 1966 Airframe modelCessna 150F 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.

Witnesses stated that the pilot would routinely fly low over their house and wave. They also stated that on Saturday, 09/12/2015 he flew over about 150 feet above the trees. The trees are estimated to be approximately 70 feet high. As he flew over the pilot waved at them then he started a gradual left turn. They then stated that he increased the engine power and saw the left wing drop followed by the aircrafts nose dropped, then headed straight to the ground.

As the FAA filed it

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE PILOT WOULD ROUTINELY FLY LOW OVER THEIR HOUSE AND WAVE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT ON SATURDAY, 09/12/2015 HE FLEW OVER ABOUT 150 FEET ABOVE THE TREES. THE TREES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 70 FEET HIGH. AS HE FLEW OVER THE PILOT WAVED AT THEM THEN HE STARTED A GRADUAL LEFT TURN. THEY THEN STATED THAT HE INCREASED THE ENGINE POWER AND SAW THE LEFT WING DROP FOLLOWED BY THE AIRCRAFTS NOSE DROPPED, THEN HEADED STRAIGHT TO THE GROUND.

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 ERA15FA352Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAtco, NJThe student pilot's improper decision to intentionally maneuver at low altitude while waving to people on the ground, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.Sep 12, 2015 · Destroyed