ATL99LA111

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150M · Asheboro, NC · July 20, 1999

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 20, 1999, 11:55 local (15:55 UTC)
Place
Asheboro, NC
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N704ETCessna 150M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 21, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19990720041359A
Case key
46836

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain flying speed that resulted in a stall and the subsequent collision with trees.

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.

In flight collision with objectTakeoff - initial climb
Object - tree(s)Cause
Stall - not correctedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

According to the private pilot, the commercial pilot was providing instruction and a biennial flight review to determine proficiency in the airplane. The private pilot stated that he performed a soft-field takeoff, climbed above barriers, and at that point the commercial pilot took the controls. He then recalls sensing a lack of climb and verified a slight descent on the vertical situation indicator. The airplane then banked hard to the right and he felt a buffet followed by a nose-low attitude. The airplane collided with two sets of trees rendering him unconscious. He regained consciousness when the airplane collided with the ground. The FAA reported that a soft-field takeoff was performed with a three to five knot tailwind and 10 degrees of flaps from runway 18. The take-off run was begun 300 feet from the approach end of the 3100 foot long runway. After takeoff, the airplane collided with 50-foot trees off the departure end of the runway. No mechanical deficiencies with the airplane were reported by the pilots.

Factual narrative

On July 20, 1999, at 1155 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N704ET, collided with trees on the departure end of a private airstrip near Asheboro, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot and commercial pilot both received minor injuries. The flight departed Asheboro, North Carolina, at 1150.

According to the private pilot, the commercial pilot was functioning as a broker and flight instructor in a pre-sale transaction of the airplane. The commercial pilot was providing instruction and a biennial flight review to determine proficiency in the airplane before the sale was finalized. The private pilot stated that he performed a soft-field takeoff, climbed above barriers, and at that point the commercial pilot took the controls. He then recalls sensing a lack of climb and verified a slight descent on the vertical situation indicator. The airplane was then banked hard to the right and he felt a buffet followed by a nose-low attitude. The airplane collided with two sets of trees rendering him unconscious. He regained consciousness when the airplane collided with the ground. He exited the airplane and then re-entered to help the commercial pilot exit.

The soft-field takeoff was attempted from runway 18 with 10 degrees of flaps. The prevailing winds at the time were from 0 degrees at 3 knots. The pilot started the take-off run 300 feet from the approach end of the 3100 foot long runway. After takeoff, the airplane collided with 50-foot trees off the departure end of the runway. At the time of departure, the grass on the runway surface was approximately five inches tall and dry. Fuel was found on the ground at the accident site. No mechanical deficiencies with the airplane were reported by the pilots.

Aircraft

Registration
N704ET
Reported as
Cessna 150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15078559
Engine
Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Gregory W. Farbo
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 1, 1999 · 5 hours before
Departed
25NC
Destination
3N8 · Concord, NC
Airport
25NC · Smith Airstrip Airport, runway 18, 3,100 × 60 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
31
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
4,810 total · 500 in this make and model · 4,420 as pilot in command · 210 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
0° at 3 knots
Visibility
5 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
INT, 39 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.