# NTSB ATL87LA259: Cessna 150G, N2280J, Concord, NC, September 15, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1987, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Concord, NC
- Coordinates: 35.399711, -80.590232 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3997&lon=-80.5902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA259
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7519/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA259

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, flight instructor(on ground) (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - radio communications - not possible (contributing factor)
  - navigation receiver - not used, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE ON CLIMBOUT, THE STU PLT SWITCHED RADIOS TO THE DEST UNICOM FREQ. UNABLE TO CONTACT ANYONE ON THAT FREQ, THE DEPARTURE ARPT FREQ WAS RESELECTED.  NO CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED ON THIS FREQ SO THE STU PLT ATTEMPTED TO RTRN TO THE ARPT. THE HAZE WAS VERY THICK AND THE DEPARTURE ARPT WAS OVERFLOWN. AFTER ABOUT 30 MIN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE STU PLT WAS DISORIENTED. FOLLOWING PREVIOUS INSTRUCTIONS TO LAND PRIOR TO RUNNING OUT OF FUEL OR FLYING INTO NIGHT CONDITIONS, THE STU PLT STARTED LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE FIELD TO ACCOMPLISH THE OFF ARPT LANDING. REPORTEDLY THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH DURING THIS SEARCH. AN APPROACH WITH AVAILABLE POWER WAS MADE TO A SOFT FIELD. UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED A VOICE ACTIVATED HEADSET AND AN UNLABELED SWITCH WHICH CONTROLLED COMMUNICATION OUTSIDE THE ACFT. THE NAVIGATION RADIO WAS NOT SET TO EITHER OF THE THREE VOR'S WITHIN RANGE. A WRITE-UP EARLIER IN THE DAY FOR THE ACFT STATED THAT THE COM RADIO WOULD NOT TRANSMIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2280J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2280J-1989-12-07), registration cancelled 1989-12-07, S/N 15065480 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G
- Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15065480
- Airframe hours: 4394
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Jim Bezanson
- Registered owner: Goose Creek Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 17, 1987
- Departed: 28A, MATTHEWS, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 68 total, 67 in this make and model, 7 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLT, 24 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 19870915053369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870915053369A), Sep 15, 1987: Cessna 150G, Concord, NC, Substantial damage. Rough engine. Student lost. Bounced on a precautionary landing. Nosed over in a soft field. Not familiar with radio

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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