# NTSB BFO88FA051: Cessna 150F, N6699F, Petersburg, VA, May 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1988, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Petersburg, VA
- Coordinates: 37.209346, -77.499031 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2093&lon=-77.4990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11368
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88FA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11368/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88FA051

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS BEING ACCOMPANIED BY A 182 DURING THE FLT FROM NC TO TANGIER ISLAND. BOTH ACFT LANDED AT PETERSBURG. A PASSENGER IN THE 182 HAD BECOME ILL. AFTER REFUELING AND SPENDING A SHORT TIME AT PETERSBURG, BOTH ACFT DEPARTED FOR TANGIER ISLAND WITH THE PASSENGER WHO HAD GOTTEN ILL NOW IN N6699F. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT CONTACTED TREES IN A WOODED AREA APRX 1 MILE FROM THE ARPT AT WHICH TIME THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT AND CONTROL WAS LOST. THE ACFT CRASHED INTO AN OPEN FIELD AND CAUGHT FIRE. A WITNESS RECALLED SEEING THE ACFT FLYING LOW AND SLOW PRIOR TO IT CONTACTING THE TREES. WEIGHT AND BALANCE INFO INDICATES THAT THE ACFT WAS AT LEAST 39 POUNDS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF. THE PLT WAS KNOWN TO HAVE RARELY FLOWN WITH THIS PASSENGER IN A CESSNA 150 DUE TO WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS. BOTH PLT AND PAX WERE LARGE, APRX 300 LBS EACH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6699F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6699F-1988-10-06), registration cancelled 1988-10-06, S/N 15063299 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F
- Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15063299
- Airframe hours: 5842
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: William E. Branson
- Registered owner: William E Branson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 1987, 183 hours before
- Departed: PTB, PETERSBURG, VA
- Destination: TGI, TANGIER ISLAND, VA
- Airport: PTB, Petersburg Muni.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 100 total, 79 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 45° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RIC, 20 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 19880528071119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880528071119A), May 28, 1988: Cessna STC150, Petersburg, VA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Over gross weight on takeoff, unable to sustain flight. Struck trees, crashed and burned.

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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