- Date
- August 6, 1989, 10:06 local (14:06 UTC)
- Place
- Dunn, NC
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5558GCessna 150J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 2, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890806030009A
- Case key
- 8053
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly calculate the takeoff distance required for the conditions and the airplane collided with power lines during climbout.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While attempting a takeoff from a 1,400 foot sod airstrip, the airplane collided with utility lines about 100 feet off the departure end of the runway. The pilot estimated that the runway was 1,600 feet long. However, the measured length was 1,400 feet. The owner's manual instructs the pilot to add about 17% to the calculated total distance for additional temps and sod surfaces. A takeoff distance of 1620 feet would be required to clear a 50 foot obstacle.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5558G
- Reported as
- Cessna 150J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15071058
- Airframe hours
- 3,576
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Luther P. Denning
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 7, 1989 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- Dunn, NC
- Airport
- Denning, runway 9, 1,400 × 66 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 150 total · 144 in this make and model · 77 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDU
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.