# NTSB ATL87LA261: Cessna 150E, N2599J, Winston Salem, NC, September 24, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 24, 1987, 06:56 local (10:56 UTC)
- Place: Winston Salem, NC
- Location: 36.1337° N, 80.2220° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SMITH REYNOLDS (INT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1337&lon=-80.2220&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7521
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7521/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA261

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - binding(mechanical) (cause)
  - engine assembly,cylinder - cracked (cause)
  - comm/nav equipment - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - control tower - not operating
  - identification of aircraft visually - misjudged, pilot in command
  - aborted landing - intentional, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE STU PLT DISCUSSED A CROSS COUNTRY FLT WITH HIS CFI, BUT DID NOT GET A SIGN OFF NOR GIVE A DATE FOR THE FLT. HE THEN RENTED AN ACFT AND DEPARTED ON THE FLT. DURING THE FLT, THE COM RADIO'S BECAME INOP. THE OPERATOR AND THE CFI WERE CALLED FROM AN ENROUTE LNDG POINT AND MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER DISCUSSING THE SITUATION AND A PROPOSED ROUTE FOR THE RETURN FLT, THE CFI GAVE VERBAL APPROVAL. THE PLT ARRIVED AT THE ARPT EARLY IN THE MORNING SO THAT HE COULD TKOF PRIOR TO THE TWR OPENING. HE DPTD ON RWY 21, TURNED LEFT, AND OVERFLEW RWY 15 TO THE END WHERE HE TURNED LEFT AGAIN. A WITNESS STD THAT THE ACFT DID NOT SOUND RIGHT FM THE START OF THE TKOF. A TURN BACK TO THE ARPT WAS MADE. A 737 ON FINAL APP TO RWY 33 WAS OBSERVED. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A 360 DEGREE TURN BUT RAN OUT OF ALT AND IMPACTED SOME TREES AT THE ARPT BOUNDRY. THE CREW OF THE 737 WERE ADVISED OF TRAFFIC IN THE AREA AND OBSERVED A SMALL ACFT TURN AWAY FROM THE ARPT. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED A STUCK EXHAUST VALVE IN THE NO. 2 CYL AND A CRACK IN THE HEAD OF NO. 3 CYL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2599J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2599J-1990-07-19), registration cancelled 1990-07-19, S/N 15061099 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150E
- Registry model: [Cessna 150E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150e) (registry code 2071812) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15061099
- Airframe hours: 3254
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Professional Pilot, Inc.
- Registered owner: Johns Pool Supplies
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1986, 25 hours before
- Destination: W16, WINCHESTER, VA
- Airport: INT, Smith Reynolds, runway 21, 3,938 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 128 total, 60 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GSO, 14 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 19870924055919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870924055919A), Sep 24, 1987: Cessna STC150, Winston Salem, NC, Substantial damage. Engine rough on climbout. Returning saw 737. Attempted evasive action. Hit trees. Cracked cylinder. Stuck valves.

## Other investigations on N2599J (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI68F0109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68F0109), Jun 11, 1967: Cessna 150 (N2599J), Murray, KY, substantial damage

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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