- Date
- July 17, 1998, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place
- Niceville, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N704YGCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980717023819A
- Case key
- 43074
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
Proper touchdown point not attained. Factors were a tailwind and wet grass.
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
According to the pilot, after an uneventful banner towing flight, he turned final approach, released the banner in tow, reduced power on the aircraft, full flaps were implemented and the airspeed was decreased to 60 KIAS. He said a tailwind decreased the lift of the aircraft causing firm impact with the ground, high ground speed and 'hydroplaning' on the wet grass surface. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and collided with two trees located at the south end of the airstrip.
Factual narrative
On July 17, 1998, at 1540 central daylight time a Cessna 150M, N704YG, owned/operated by Walker Aviation Services, collided between two trees after landing at Ruckel Airstrip in Niceville, Florida. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local banner towing flight. The pilot and sole occupant received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from the private airstrip at 1415 central daylight time.
According to the pilot, after an uneventful banner towing flight and return to Ruckel Airstrip, he turned final approach, released the banner in tow, reduced power on the aircraft, full flaps were implemented and the airspeed was decreased to 60 KIAS. According to the pilot, a tailwind decreased the lift of the aircraft causing firm impact with the ground, high ground speed and "hydroplaning" on the wet grass surface. The aircraft overran the end of the runway and collided with two trees located at the south end of the airstrip.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N704YG
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15078974
- Airframe hours
- 4,766
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Walker Aviation Services
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 26, 1998 · 83 hours before
- Departed
- FL17
- Airport
- FL17 · Ruckel
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
- 27
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 650 total · 232 in this make and model · 536 as pilot in command · 129 in the last 90 days · 113 in the last 30 days · 12 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VPS, 5 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.