- Date
- June 4, 1994, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Troy, NY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N2480JCessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 13, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940604013819A
- Case key
- 8927
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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain alignment with the runway which resulted in an inflight collision with a tree. A factor is crosswinds.
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 the airplane was on final approach to runway 36 when it suddenly encountered a change in wind direction. He stated that the airplane started to sink and drifted slightly to the right. The pilot stated that he applied power to arrest the sink rate. He stated that he tried to align the airplane with the centerline, but he was unsuccessful. The right wing tip struck a tree and spun the aircraft around. According to the FAA, the reported winds at the time of the accident were 290 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction, and that the trees were removed by other pilots several days after the accident. He also reported that the wind reversal and wind shear caused the airplane to drift to the right.
Factual narrative
On June 4, 1994, at 1350 eastern daylight time, N2480J, a Cessna 150, struck trees during landing at Rensselaer County Airport, Troy, New York. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.
The pilot reported that the airplane was on final approach to runway 36 when it suddenly encountered a change in wind direction. He stated that the airplane started to sink and it drifted slightly to the right. The pilot stated that he applied power to arrest the sink rate. He also stated that he tried to align the airplane with the centerline, but he was unsuccessful. The right wing tip struck a tree and spun the aircraft around.
According to the FAA, the reported winds at the time of the accident were 290 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 20 knots. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction, and that the trees were removed by other pilots several days after the accident. He also reported that the wind reversal and wind shear caused the airplane to drift to the right.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2480J
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15065580
- Airframe hours
- 3,502
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Michael A Dwyer
- Registered owner
- Michael A Dwyer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 7, 1994 · 20 hours before
- Airport
- 5B7 · Rensselaer County, runway 36, 2,670 × 50 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
- 71
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,905 total · 203 in this make and model · 43 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ALB, 15 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.