What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 4, 2023, about 10:50 mountain standard time (MST), a Cessna 150M, impacted the terrain during an attempted visual flight rules (VFR) takeoff from runway 21 at Marble Canyon airport (L41), Marble Canyon, Arizona. Neither the certificated commercial pilot nor his certificated private pilot passenger sustained injuries. The aircraft was substantialy damaged.
According to the pilot during a phone interview on 9/7/2023, a takeoff was performed from runway 21. The pilot stated the aircraft was producing full power and climbed to about 20-30 feet above ground level (AGL). The aircraft maintained runway heading runway heading without climbing. The aircraft subsequently stalled and impacted rising terrain approximately 500' feet off the end of runway 21.
Marble Canyon airport is 3,603' feet above sea level (asl). At the time of the accident, the pilot reported the wind as variable. The temperature at the airport was approximately 83 degrees fahrenheit with a calculated density altitude of approximately 6,885' feet asl.
An examination of on-site photographs provided by the pilot and local law enforcement indicated the aircraft was substantially damaged with impact damage to the nose landing gear, both wings, propeller and engine cowling.
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2023, ABOUT 10:50 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME (MST), A CESSNA 150M, IMPACTED THE TERRAIN DURING AN ATTEMPTED VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 21 AT MARBLE CANYON AIRPORT (L41), MARBLE CANYON, ARIZONA. NEITHER THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT NOR HIS CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALY DAMAGED.
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT DURING A PHONE INTERVIEW ON 9/7/2023, A TAKEOFF WAS PERFORMED FROM RUNWAY 21. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS PRODUCING FULL POWER AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 20-30 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL). THE AIRCRAFT MAINTAINED RUNWAY HEADING RUNWAY HEADING WITHOUT CLIMBING. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY STALLED AND IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 500' FEET OFF THE END OF RUNWAY 21.
MARBLE CANYON AIRPORT IS 3,603' FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL (ASL). AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND AS VARIABLE. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE AIRPORT WAS APPROXIMATELY 83 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITH A CALCULATED DENSITY ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 6,885' FEET ASL.
AN EXAMINATION OF ON-SITE PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED BY THE PILOT AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WITH IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE NOSE LANDING GEAR, BOTH WINGS, PROPELLER AND ENGINE COWLING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.