# NTSB ATL02LA050: Cessna 152, N757AS, Blowing Rock, NC, February 21, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 21, 2002, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Blowing Rock, NC - Coordinates: 36.131942, -81.542778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1319&lon=-81.5428&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Charlotte FSDO - 33 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54271/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54271 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA050 ## Probable cause The pilot's in-flight decision to continue flight into an area with high winds that resulted in an in-flight encounter with a downdraft and subsequent loss of control of the airplane and collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - in-flight planning/decision - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high wind - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot was maneuvering 50 to 100 feet above trees in mountainous terrain when a strong downdraft was encountered. The pilot attempted to escape the condition by turning, and the downdraft pushed the airplane into the treetops. A nearby weather station reported surface winds from 280 degrees magnetic at 24 knots gusting to 37 knots. The airplane was found approximately 100 yards below a 2,630-foot peak on the southeast side, about 3.5 miles east of a 3,800-foot ridge. Both wings displayed leading edge damage. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or defect was found, and the pilot reported no mechanical problems. ## Factual narrative On February 21, 2002, at 1430 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N757AS, registered to H & H Propeller Service, Inc., and operated by the private pilot, collided with mountainous terrain while maneuvering in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a visual flight rules flight plan filed but not activated. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received serious injuries, the passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport in Burlington, North Carolina, at 1300. The pilot was maneuvering above mountainous terrain at 3,700 feet, making first one pass then returning for a second pass to view property on the ground. During the second pass, the pilot reported encountering a strong downdraft. The pilot attempted to escape the condition by turning the airplane to the right. During the maneuver, the downdraft pushed the airplane's left wing down. The pilot was able to level the wings, but the airplane was pushed downward into the tree tops. A witness in a mountain-top home 100 yards from the accident site saw the airplane flying on the southeast side of the mountain, coming in from the west at 50 to 100 feet above the trees. The witness stated the airplane suddenly "flipped" to its side during a "major gust of wind" and collided with trees in a steep bank. An automated weather station in Boone, North Carolina, reported surface winds from 280 degrees magnetic at 24 knots gusting to 37 knots. The airplane was found approximately 100 yards below a 2,630-foot peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the southeast side, about 3.5 miles east of a 3,800-foot ridge. According to the pilot, he received a weather briefing before the flight departed. Examination of the wreckage found the airplane resting in a nose-down, left wing-low attitude on a wooded slope. Fuel was observed leaking from the tanks immediately after impact. Both wings displayed leading edge damage. Flight control continuity and engine control continuity was established. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or defect was found during the on-site examination f the airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N757AS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N757AS-2013-02-26), registration cancelled 2013-02-26, S/N 15279591, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15279591 - Airframe hours: 4400 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Billy McCoy Winkler - Registered owner: H & H Propeller Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 2001, 59.9 hours before - Departed: BUY, Burlington, NC - Destination: BUY, Burlington, NC - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: BUY, Burlington-Alamance Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 30, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,030 total, 20 in this make and model, 1,030 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 24 knots, gusting 37 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KTNB, 75 nm away ## Other investigations on N757AS (2) 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 ATL88LA077](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA077), Jan 12, 1988: Cessna 152 (N757AS), Greensboro, NC, substantial damage - [NTSB ATL84LA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84LA162), May 5, 1984: Cessna 152 (N757AS), Greensboro, NC, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54271. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 597 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 232 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Weather Data (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40169407&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Data-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Right wing, nose (item 4, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40169411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20wing,%20nose-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Nose (item 5, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40169435&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Nose-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Fuselage from below (item 6, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40169438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Fuselage%20from%20below-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.