# NTSB ATL91LA136: Cessna 150L, N51361, Belhaven, NC, July 20, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 20, 1991, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Belhaven, NC
- Coordinates: 35.540676, -76.619728 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5407&lon=-76.6197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8439
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91LA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8439/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA136

## Probable cause

THE POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE TAIL WIND, MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, AND MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES.

## 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)
  - weather condition - tailwind
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A GO AROUND FOLLOWING A LOW APPROACH TO THE SHORT, SOD FIELD.  HE INITIALLY STATED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND LATER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING AFTER ENTERING THE DOWNWIND LEG.  THE TEMPERATURE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES.  THE PILOT MADE THE APPROACH TO THE NORTH WITH AN APPROXIMATE 10-KNOT TAIL WIND.  A WITNESS LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST END OF THE RUNWAY STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AS IT PASSED HER POSITION.  THE TREES ON THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY ARE APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET TALL.  INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N51361](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51361-1996-06-17), registration cancelled 1996-06-17, S/N 15069950 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15069950
- Airframe hours: 2723
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Morris,James M
- Registered owner: Flight Line Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1991, 39 hours before
- Departed: ECG, ELIZABETH CITY, NC
- Airport: O5W, Riverside, runway 5, 1,752 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 150 total, 146 in this make and model, 80 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWN, 41 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 19910720028829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910720028829A), Jul 20, 1991: Cessna 150L, Belhaven, NC, Substantial damage. Made low pass downwind to check sod runway crashed into trees on climbout.

## Other investigations on N51361 (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 CHI70FGG01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70FGG01), Jan 12, 1970: Cessna 150J (N51361), New Albany, OH, 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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