# NTSB ANC87FA070: Cessna 150, N66286, Birchwood, AK, May 16, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 16, 1987, 12:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Birchwood, AK
- Coordinates: 61.410137, -149.169464 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4101&lon=-149.1695&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 5, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4774
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87FA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4774/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87FA070

## Analysis

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING LANDING. IT NOSED OVER DURING A GROUND LOOP.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66286](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66286-2011-08-04), registration cancelled 2011-08-04, S/N 15075976, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15075976
- Airframe hours: 3296
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert Francis Schoonmaker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 9, 1987, 18 hours before
- Departed: LAKE GEORGE, AK
- Destination: Z15, CHUGIAK, AK
- Airport: Z15, Birchwood, runway 1, 4,010 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 547 total, 199 in this make and model, 516 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870516016009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870516016009A), May 16, 1987: Cessna STC150, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft ground lopped on landing. Gusty crosswinds. Tailwheel conversion.

## Other investigations on N66286 (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 ANC11FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11FA055), Jun 27, 2011: Cessna 150M (N66286), Beluga Lake, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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.

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