# NTSB ATL93LA133: Cessna 150E, N6197T, Pelion, SC, July 24, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 1993, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Pelion, SC - Coordinates: 33.780616, -81.240737 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7806&lon=-81.2407&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 3, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3244 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3244/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA133 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION PRIOR TO COMMENCING THE FLIGHT. FACTORS WERE THE FOG AND LOW CEILING WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE ROUGH, UNEVEN TERRAIN AT THE LANDING SITE ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Nose down, landing - roll ## Analysis THE COMMERCIAL PILOT ELECTED TO TAKE OFF AFTER A ONE HOUR DELAY FOR FOGGY CONDITIONS. HE DID NOT OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING. HE CHECKED A NEARBY ATIS AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, AND THEY WERE REPORTING IFR CONDITIONS. HE REACHED HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, AND OBSERVED THAT IT WAS 'PARTIALLY FOGGED IN.' HE ELECTED TO CIRCLE THE AIRFIELD UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVED. THE WEATHER BEGAN TO DETERIORATE FURTHER, AND THE PILOT ENTERED IMC. HE THEN ELECTED TO DESCEND AND LOOK FOR AN OPEN FIELD SINCE HIS FUEL STATUS WAS LOW. HE BROKE OUT OF THE WEATHER, AND MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A COTTON FIELD AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS. THE NOSE GEAR FAILED AFTER LANDING ON THE ROUGH TERRAIN, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED ## Factual narrative On July 24, 1993, at about 0930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150E, N6197T, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing in a cotton field near Pelion, South Carolina. The commercial pilot had minor injuries in the accident. The aircraft was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight to Fairview, South Carolina. The flight originated in Perry, South Carolina at about 0745. According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration, the flight departed from a private airstrip in Perry under visual flight rules (VFR). Prior to the flight, the pilot checked the weather in Columbia, South Carolina. At that time, instrument flight rules (IFR) weather prevailed in Columbia, with a forecast for improvement. As he continued with his flight, the weather deteriorated. He continued toward his destination, expecting an improvement in the weather. The weather did not improve, so he initiated a precautionary landing in a cotton field. During the landing attempt, the left wing contacted the ground, and the aircraft cartwheeled. The aircraft came to rest on its tail. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6197T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6197T-1998-09-08), registration cancelled 1998-09-08, S/N 15060897 (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: 15060897 - Airframe hours: 3705 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gunter, Roy S. - Registered owner: Salley, Lourie A. III - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1992, 105 hours before - Departed: NONE, PERRY, SC - Destination: NONE, FAIRVIEW, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 430 total, 270 in this make and model, 335 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CAE, 12 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 19930724025439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930724025439A), Jul 24, 1993: Cessna 150E, Pelion, SC, Substantial damage. Departed into known poor weather conditions. Let down thru clouds to land due low fuel. Chose unsuitable surface. ## Other investigations on N6197T (3) 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 MKC74FCG33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74FCG33), May 4, 1974: Cessna 150 (N6197T), Kansas City, KS, substantial damage - [NTSB MKC72DCG53](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72DCG53), May 2, 1972: Cessna 150 (N6197T), Kansas City, MO, substantial damage - [NTSB UNK65X0698](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X0698), Nov 14, 1964: Cessna 150E (N6197T), Tuscaloosa, AL, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.