# NTSB BFO88FA022: Cessna 150M, N9399U, So. Charleston, WV, February 17, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 17, 1988, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC)
- Place: So. Charleston, WV
- Coordinates: 38.310482, -81.749038 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3105&lon=-81.7490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 2 minor; on the ground: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11358
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88FA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11358/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88FA022

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - powerplant - erratic (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STU PLT SAID THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ALTERNATE BETWEEN PARTIAL AND FULL POWER DURING THE INITIAL TKF CLIMB. THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 100 FT AGL AND ABOUT 300 FT PAST THE RWY END. ACCORDING TO THE STU THE INST TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT, TURNED LEFT, REVERSED COURSE AND HEADED TOWARD A TAXIWAY ON THE ARPT. THE TAXIWAY IS ORIENTED EAST-WEST AND IS EAST OF AND ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY USED FOR TKF, RWY 15. THE STU COULD NOT RECALL WHETHER THE ACFT LOST OR GAINED ALTITUDE DURING THE APPROACH TO THE RWY; HOWEVER HE SAID THE ACFT STAYED ABOVE THE ARPT. A WITNESS SAID HE HEARD ENGINE SOUNDS AS THE ACFT REVERSED COURSE. ACCORDING TO THE STU AS THEY NEARED THE TAXIWAY THE ACFT WAS STILL IN A LEFT TURN WHEN SUDDENLY IT STRUCK TREES ABOUT 200 FT SHORT OF THE EAST END OF THE TAXIWAY. A WITNESS SAID THE ACFT STALLED BEFORE IT STRUCK TREES. THE STU WAS RESCUED FROM THE ACFT BUT THE ACFT EXPLODED BEFORE THE INSTR COULD BE RESCUED. TWO RESCUERS WERE INJURED IN THE EXPLOSION. FIRE DAMAGE PRECLUDED DETERMINATION OF LOSS OF POWER. THE ACFT USED AUTO GAS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9399U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9399U-1988-09-21), registration cancelled 1988-09-21, S/N 15078347 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078347
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Merry R. Casto
- Registered owner: Benjamin F. Mallory
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: WV12
- Airport: WV12, Mallory, runway 15, 2,000 × 20 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 9,400 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRW, 7 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 19880217004919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880217004919A), Feb 17, 1988: Cessna 150M, South Charlesto, WV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine reported to lose power on climbout. CFI stalled aircraft and crashed trying to turn back. Auto fuel in use.

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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