# NTSB CHI01LA157: Cessna 150D, N5919T, Milltown, WI, June 10, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2001, 20:15 local (Jun 10, 2001, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Milltown, WI - Coordinates: 45.519802, -92.489822 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5198&lon=-92.4898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52476 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52476/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA157 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - lowering of flaps - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5919T-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 15060619, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150D - Registry model: [Cessna 150D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150d) (registry code 2071810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15060619 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010609018989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010609018989A), Jun 9, 2001: Cessna 150D, Amery, WI, No damage. (-23) Pilot was taking off on a grass strip, with a large tree approximately 1000 feet from the end of the grass strip. Pilot did not have enough airspeed to… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.