CHI01LA157

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150D · Milltown, WI · June 10, 2001

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 9, 2001, 20:15 local (Jun 10, 2001, 01:15 UTC)
Place
Milltown, WI
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N5919TCessna 150D
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 21, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20010609018989A
Case key
52476

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 stall/mush encountered by the pilot during that takeoff. Factors were the pilot's excessive lowering of the flaps during the takeoff and the 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.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Lowering of flaps - excessivePilot in commandFactor
Stall/mush - encounteredPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectDescent - uncontrolled
Object - tree(s)Factor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during climbout. The pilot reported minor injuries. The pilot stated, "No recollection of the accident." A witness stated, "He lifted off about midway and began to climb but he seemed to be a bit slow for a climb. The plane banked slightly to the left away from the tallest tree and then lost altitude and disappeared from my view behind another fence row. I did not observe it flying again and ran to the woods where I suspected I would find the plane. ... My recollection is that the flaps were near full extension as he attempted to climb as they remain now after the crash, probably the same position they were in when he landed the first time." A Cessna 150 manual was reviewed. The manual stated, "Flap deflections of 30 [degrees] and 40 [degrees] are not recommended at any time for take-off."

Factual narrative

On June 9, 2001, about 2015 central daylight time, a Cessna 150D, N5919T, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during climbout from a private field near Milltown, Wisconsin. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated, "No recollection of the accident."

A witness stated:

I was nearly done mowing and observed the second takeoff from about midway

on the 1300 foot grass headland of my bean field. He lifted off about

midway and began to climb but he seemed to be a bit slow for a climb. The

plane banked slightly to the left away from the tallest tree and then lost

altitude and disappeared from my view behind another fence row. I did not

observe it flying again and ran to the woods where I suspected I would

find the plane. The wings were badly damaged and the plane was pointing

west, opposite of my last observation, with the undamaged tail in a tree

but engine and propeller in the ground, nose gear was broken off, but main

wheels had apparently not touched the ground in the crash. [The pilot]

was hanging out of the left door, bleeding from his left eye and not

conscious. Due to the gasoline leaking and my fear of a fire I turned off

the electrical switch and carefully removed him from the cockpit by

unfastening his lap belt and getting his feet from under the rudder

peddles and easing him to a safe place about 6 feet away. From my cell

phone I finally contacted the 911 people (I had attempted a call before

reaching the site but got no answer) and help was quite quick to arrive

but to me of course they seemed rather slow. ... The time of my 911 call

is recorded in the cell phone as 8:23 PM.

My recollection is that the flaps were near full extension as he attempted

to climb and as they remain now after the crash, probably the same position

they were in when he landed the first time.

A Cessna 150 manual was reviewed. The manual stated, "Flap deflections of 30 [degrees] and 40 [degrees] are not recommended at any time for take-off."

Aircraft

Registration
N5919T
Reported as
Cessna 150D
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15060619
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Melvin McKenzie
Registered owner
Russell Vennes
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
Milltown, WI
Airport
Private Airstrip, runway 18, 1,300 × 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
70
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Expired
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 3 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
29.81 inHg
Observed at
RPD, 32 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.