ATL04CA127

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150 · Decatur, AL · June 6, 2004

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 6, 2004, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Decatur, AL
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N10424Cessna 150
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 29, 2004
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Birminghan FSDO
FAA report
20040606008389A
Case key
59574

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance, which resulted in collision with utility wires.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectManeuvering
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in command
Object - wire,transmission
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

According to the pilot, he took off from the private grass airstrip with the intention of "buzzing" a friend's property. He stated that after he located the property and observed people outside, he turned the airplane around to begin maneuvering to a lower altitude. He stated that at about 1500 feet mean sea level, he began a descent over a field in the general direction of the property. He said he saw the power lines a short time and distance later, and he advanced the throttle to full power and pulled up on the yoke. He stated that the engine did not produce an immediate response. The airplane collided with the power lines 50 feet above ground level and a subsequent forced landing was attempted in a nearby field. Examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that the firewall sustained extensive damage, the windscreen was broken from mounts, both wings incurred spar and rib damage, the fuselage and tail were buckled and bent, and the nose gear was torn from the fuselage.

Factual narrative

On June 6, 2004, at 1600 central daylight time, a Cessna 150, N10424, owned and operated by a non-certificated pilot, collided with utility lines while maneuvering in Decatur, Alabama. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated at Hampton-Russell Airstrip, Decatur, Alabama, at 1530 on June 6, 2004.

According to the pilot, he took off from the private grass airstrip with the intention of "buzzing" a friend's property. He stated that after he located the property and observed people outside, he turned the airplane around to begin maneuvering to a lower altitude. He stated that at about 1500 feet mean sea level, he began a descent over a field in the general direction of the property. He said he saw the power lines a short time and distance later, and he advanced the throttle to full power and pulled up on the yoke. He stated that the engine did not produce an immediate response. The airplane collided with the power lines 50 feet above ground level and a subsequent forced landing was attempted in a nearby field.

Examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that the firewall sustained extensive damage, the windscreen was broken from mounts, both wings incurred spar and rib damage, the fuselage and tail were buckled and bent, and the nose gear was torn from the fuselage.

The pilot reported he and the previous owner of the airplane made a verbal agreement to exchange ownership of the airplane approximately two years ago, but registration paperwork with the Federal Aviation Administration was never filed.

Aircraft

Registration
N10424
Reported as
Cessna 150
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15074853
Airframe hours
4,837
Engine
Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Clifford Lamar Collins
Registered owner
Charles Hampton
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · March 25, 2004
Departed
PVT · Decatur, AL
Airport
PVT · Hampton-Russell Airstrip

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
64
Injuries
Minor
Seat
Left
Flight hours
250 total · 100 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
30.01 inHg
Observed at
HSV, 10 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.