- Date
- April 25, 1994, 09:57 local (13:57 UTC)
- Place
- Westminster, MD
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N11522Cessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940425009199A
- Case key
- 8918
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 pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and the inflight loss of control. A factor is the pilot's failure to do a go around.
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
The pilot reported that during the first approach to runway 31, he encountered a 'strong crosswind' from the right and decided to go around. During the second approach, he attempted to correct for the crosswind, and was 'surprised' by a gust of wind. He stated he delayed the decision to go-around, allowed the airplane to drift to the left, and allowed the airspeed to decrease below the stall speed. The airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted trees.
Factual narrative
On April 25, 1994, at 0957 hours eastern daylight time, N11522, a Cessna 150, operated by the owner/pilot, impacted tress during an uncontrolled descent and was destroyed. The uncontrolled descent occurred while climbing during a go-around attempt at the Clearview Airpark, Westminster, Maryland. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight originated from York, Pennsylvania, about 0900 hours and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.
The pilot, age 74, stated that during the first approach to runway 31, he encountered a "strong crosswind" from the right and decided to go around. During the second approach, he attempted to correct for the crosswind, and was "surprised" by a gust of wind. He stated "I took - too late - the decision to go around again. At this moment I was too low, too slow over the woods and stalled."
According to an FAA aviation safety inspector, the airplane impacted trees on the south side of the runway. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N11522
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15075484
- Airframe hours
- 3,130
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Guggenheim, Raymond
- Registered owner
- Guggenheim, Raymond
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 20, 1993 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- THV · York, PA
- Airport
- 2W2 · Clearview Airpark, runway 31, 1,845 × 30 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
- 74
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 856 total · 650 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Observed at
- IAD, 45 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.