# NTSB ATL04CA197: Cessna 150M, N45667, Sevierville, TN, September 30, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 30, 2004, 07:10 local (11:10 UTC) - Place: Sevierville, TN - Coordinates: 35.811668, -83.724441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8117&lon=-83.7244&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60358 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04CA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60358/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA197 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an attempted takeoff, which resulted in the on ground collision with high vegetation and a subsequent nose over. Factors were a foggy windshield and windshield defrost not activated. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - window,flight compartment window/windshield - dirty(foggy) (contributing factor) - cabin heater - not activated - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - high vegetation - Nose over, other ## Analysis The pilot stated at on take-off roll and at fifty knots, the windshield and side glass fogged up to the point of zero visibility. He stated that he sensed that the aircraft was drifting to the left, at which point he unsuccessfully attempted to correct the path to the right. He stated that he retarded the throttle and began to shut down the plane. The airplane's left wing collided with tall brush and bushes, nosed over in soft mud, and came to rest inverted. Post-accident examination of the accident scene revealed tire marks beginning at the approach end of runway 7, veering left off the runway for approximately 975 feet into brush and soft mud. Other marks were observed in the soft mud leading up to the inverted airplane. One blade of the propeller was buried in the mud. Examination of the airplane revealed the left outboard half of the wing was crushed aft and the right wingtip was separated. The vertical stabilizer was displaced to the right. The nearest weather reporting facility, McGhee-Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee, 10 nautical miles southwest of Seymour Airpark, Sevierville, Tennessee, at 0653, reported winds as 050 degrees at four knots, visibility of four statute miles in mist, and temperature-dew point of 12 degrees Celsius. Examination of the pilot logbooks revealed that an endorsement for repeated solo flights less than 25 nautical miles was not entered by a certified flight instructor. There were no logbook entry remarks of flight training to or from Seymour Airpark, or take-offs or landing made at Seymour Airpark entered or signed of by a certified flight instructor. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2004, at 0710 eastern daylight time, N45667, a Cessna 150M, registered to and operated by a student pilot, veered off the runway and collided with tall brush while attempting a take-off roll on runway 7 at Seymour Airpark, Sevierville, Tennessee. The solo instructional flight was conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Seymour Airpark, Sevierville, Tennessee, on September 30, 2004, at 0709. According to the student pilot, the purpose of the flight was to complete a solo flight to Sky Ranch Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee, where the pilot and airplane were based. He stated that he contacted Sky Ranch airport to obtain the weather conditions, and the visibility there was 3 miles. He stated that he preflighted the airplane "according to standard procedures cleaned the windshield and side glasses of moisture." He stated that he performed a run-up, aligned the airplane on the centerline of runway 7, and initiated take-off roll. He stated at "fifty knots, the windshield and side glass fogged up to the point of zero visibility." He stated that "he sensed that the aircraft was drifting to the left," at which point he "unsuccessfully attempted to correct the path to the right." He stated that he retarded the throttle and began to "shut down the plane." The airplane's left wing collided with tall brush and bushes, nosed over in soft mud, and came to rest inverted. Post-accident examination of the accident scene revealed tire marks beginning at the approach end of runway 7, veering left off the runway for approximately 975 feet into brush and soft mud. Other marks were observed in the soft mud leading up to the inverted airplane. One blade of the propeller was buried in the mud. Examination of the airplane wreckage revealed the left outboard half of the wing was crushed aft and the right wingtip was separated. The vertical stabilizer was displaced to the right. The nearest weather reporting facility, McGhee-Tyson Airport, Knoxville, Tennessee, 10 nautical miles southwest of Seymour Airpark, Sevierville, Tennessee, at 0653, reported winds as 050 degrees at four knots, visibility of four statute miles in mist, and temperature-dew point of 12 degrees Celsius. Examination of the pilot logbooks revealed that an endorsement for repeated solo flights less than 25 nautical miles was not entered by a certified flight instructor. The Owner's Manual for the Cessna 150 states that the airplane is equipped with a cabin heat and ventilation system. Windshield defrost air is also suppiled by this system. The student pilot did not report using the defrost system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45667](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45667-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N 15077014, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - 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: 15077014 - Airframe hours: 5146 - Engines: Continental O-200 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Larry Winters - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 2004, 15 hours before - Departed: TN20, Sevierville, TN - Destination: TN98, Knoxville, TN - Airport: TN20, Seymour AirPark, runway 7, 2,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 129 total, 118 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KTYS, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040930029799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040930029799A), Sep 30, 2004: Cessna 150M, Sevierville, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that he was attempting to take off from the grass strip at Seymour, Tennessee. His intended destination was sky ranch air park, a… 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.