ATL04LA110

The pilot stated that he had flown around the local area and established a traffic pattern for a landing on runway 32. After rolling approximately 2,600 feet from the approach end of the runway, the pilot slowed down to turn around in the middle of the runway. The pilot stated that airplane got too close to the east edge of the runway surface, and the left wing tip hit some small tree saplings. The airplane yawed to the left and collided with a large seven-foot-tall tree, then came to rest in a ditch that was along the side of the runway. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing was twisted back, and showed buckling of the upper and lower wing skin surfaces. According to the pilot, runway 32 was 3800 feet long and 80 feet wide. According to the Cessna 150 Owner's Manual, principal dimensions, the wing span is 32 feet 8 1/2 inches.

On April 29, 2004 at 1935 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150K, N5656G, registered to and operated by a commercial pilot, collided with a tree during taxi on runway 32 at Monticello Sky Ranch Airport in Monticello, Georgia. The flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The plane departed Monticello Sky Ranch Airport on April 29, 2004 at 1900.

According to the pilot, he had flown around the local area and returned to the departure airport and established a traffic pattern for a landing on runway 32. The pilot reported the landing was without incident, however, after the airplane rolled approximately 2,600 feet from the approach end of the runway, the airplane slowed down and the pilot elected to turn the airplane around in the middle of the runway. The pilot stated that as he executed the turn, the airplane got too close to the east edge of the runway surface, and the left wing tip collided with small tree saplings adjacent to the runway edge. Following the collision with the saplings, the airplane yawed to the left, collided with a large seven-foot-tall tree, and came to rest in a ditch beside the runway.

The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing was twisted back, and showed buckling of the upper and lower wing skin surfaces. According to the pilot, runway 32 was 3800 feet long and 80 feet wide. According to the Cessna 150 Owner's Manual, principal dimensions, the wing span is 32 feet, 8 1/2 inches.