# NTSB ATL87LA109: Cessna 150F, N8960S, Branchville, AL, April 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 11, 1987, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place: Branchville, AL
- Coordinates: 33.679058, -86.390205 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6791&lon=-86.3902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7406
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7406/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA109

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command
  - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO BE 'HOT' ON FINAL APPROACH DUE TO A TAILWIND, WHILE LDG AT THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND TO AVOID 50-60 FT TREES AT THE FAR END OF THE RWY AND MADE A CLIMBING RIGHT TURN. THE STALL WARNING SYSTEM ACTIVATED DURING THE CLIMBING TURN. THE AIRSTRIP OWNER WHO WITNESSED THE GO-AROUND REPORTED THAT THE TURN WAS STEEP AND NOSE HIGH, AND OCCURRED ABOUT HALF-WAY DOWN THE RWY. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE-DOWN AFTER CLEARING SOME HIGH TREES TO THE SIDE OF THE RWY, AND DISAPPEARED FROM HIS SIGHT. THE ACFT LEFT WING SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK A LARGE DEAD TREE IN A PASTURE AND THE ACFT FELL TO THE GROUND UPRIGHT. THE AIRSTRIP OWNER REPORTED THAT THE WINDS AT THE TIME WERE CALM. THE WIND 18 NM AWAY AT BHM WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 310 DEGREES AT 4 KTS AT 1155 CDT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8960S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8960S-1990-12-03), registration cancelled 1990-12-03, S/N 15062260 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F
- Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15062260
- Airframe hours: 4984
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed: GAD, GADSDEN, AL
- Airport: AL57, Pickett'S Flyin Airport, runway 36, 1,754 × 30 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 240 total, 190 in this make and model, 193 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BHM, 18 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 19870411010499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870411010499A), Apr 11, 1987: Cessna 150F, Branchville, AL, Substantial damage. The aircraft stalled during a go around and hit trees. The pilot made a steep approach and started go around late.

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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