# NTSB ATL88LA255: Cessna 150, N7831E, Bessemer City, NC, September 25, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 25, 1988, 00:55 local (04:55 UTC)
- Place: Bessemer City, NC
- Coordinates: 35.279102, -81.2798 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2791&lon=-81.2798&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 4, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7816
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7816/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA255

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - dark night
  - object - wire,transmission
  - comm/nav equipment,vor receiver - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - comm/nav equipment,transceiver - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - became lost/disoriented
  - fluid,fuel - low level
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED A CLOUD LAYER FORMING ALONG HIS FLT ROUTE. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE ACFT VOR RCVR FAILED. THE PLT ELECTED TO CONTINUE VFR-ON-TOP TO HIS PLANNED DESTINATION BASED ON VFR WX REPORTED BY AN ATIS BROADCAST FROM AN ARPT (CLT) WHICH WAS NEAR HIS DESTINATION. UPON ARRIVAL IN THE VICINITY OF HIS DESTINATION, THE COMM RADIO FAILED & HE FOUND THAT THERE WAS A 'SOLID UNDERCAST' PRESENT. HE THEN DIVERTED TO CLT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE IT DUE TO THE OVERCAST. WITH AN ESTIMATED 5 MINUTES OF FUEL REMAINING, HE DESCENDED THROUGH THE OVERCAST & BROKE OUT AT 200-300 FT AGL. HE OBSERVED A PAVED ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON IT; THE RT WING IMPACTED UNSEEN UTILITY WIRES DURING THE LDG AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE WX PRIOR TO T/0 BY LISTENING TO NWS WX RADIO AND BY MAKING A PHONE CALL TO HIS DESTINATION. HE DID NOT OBTAIN A FSS WX BRIEFING. OCCASIONAL LOW OVERCAST CEILINGS WERE FORECAST FOR CLT, BEGINNING A FEW HRS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7831E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7831E-1991-03-26), registration cancelled 1991-03-26, S/N 17631 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17631
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Alpheus B. Bullock
- Registered owner: Bullock, Alpheus B., Sr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: NONE, BEAUFORT, NC
- Destination: NONE, MOCKSVILLE, NC

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 19,700 total, 800 in this make and model, 14,500 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CLT, 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 19880925040209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880925040209A), Sep 25, 1988: Cessna 150, Bessemer City, NC, Substantial damage. Over an overcast at night without full wx briefing. Low on fuel descended through clouds. Hit wire on a road.

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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