- Date
- April 14, 1996, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Enterprise, AL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N23298Cessna 150H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 11, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960414007179A
- Case key
- 3723
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during a go-around. A factor relating to the accident was: improper flare by the pilot during the landing.
Analysis
The pilot was performing the second solo flight in his training to add an airplane rating to his commercial helicopter certificate. During a touch-and-go landing on runway 23, the airplane ballooned, and the pilot initiated a go-around. As the airplane became airborne, it turned to the right, then collided with a tree about 200 from the side of the runway.
Factual narrative
On April 14, 1996 about 1630 central daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N23298, collided with a tree while executing a go-around to Enterprise Municipal Airport, Enterprise, Alabama. The airplane was operated by Buck's Flying Service under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. No flight plan had been filed for the local, solo flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight had departed from Enterprise Municipal Airport at 1600.
The flight instructor stated that he had been teaching the student touch and go landings that day. The flight instructor got out of the airplane, so the student could do his second solo flight. According to the FAA Inspector, the pilot holds a commercial pilot certificate in helicopters and was beginning his fixed wing training. The airplane ballooned on touchdown, and a go-around was executed. A witness stated that he saw "the mishap aircraft sidestep to the right side of the runway and impact the trees in a nose high, right wing slightly low, attitude."
The wreckage was located about 200 feet from the side of runway 23, and 1,000 feet past the approach end of the runway. The right wing tip was separated, and was laying about 20 feet from the left wing. The left wing had almost broken off, and was displaced slightly forward of the normal position. The right wing leading edge indicated signature marks of striking a tree, verified by tree tops laying on the ground. The master switch was in the off position, and the ELT had been deactivated. The throttle was in the retarded position, and the mixture was in idle cut off.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23298
- Reported as
- Cessna 150H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15068857
- Airframe hours
- 4,878
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Buck'S Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Bascom H. Knight
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 2, 1996 · 78 hours before
- Departed
- EDN
- Airport
- EDN · Enterprise Municipal, runway 23, 3,499 × 80 ft, asphalt
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
- 28
- Certificates
- Military, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 200 total · 4 in this make and model · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OZR, 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.