# NTSB CHI03LA019: Cessna 150M, N2995V, New Town, ND, November 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 7, 2002, 20:00 local (Nov 8, 2002, 02:00 UTC) - Place: New Town, ND - Coordinates: 47.966945, -102.444725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9669&lon=-102.4447&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56059 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56059/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA019 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance and his inadequate in-flight planning/decision. Contributing factors are the pilot becoming lost/disoriented and night conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - low level - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane contacted rising terrain during an off airport go-around. The pilot reported that he was following Highway 83 to Minot. He stated that once he passed Bismarck, he noticed he was getting low on fuel so he attempted to contact Bismarck Air Traffic Control to land, to no avail. He reported that he again began to follow the highway, but it was dark, and the highway disappeared in the darkness because there were no vehicles on it. The pilot then decided to land at Garrison, North Dakota, for fuel. He reported that upon approaching Garrison, he saw ground lights which he mistook was being the airport. While on final approach, he discovered that the lights were actually a trailer court. He applied power to go-around and airplane contacted a hill in front of it. The pilot reported that he did not see the hill due to the darkness and the lack of horizon. The accident site was approximately 45 nautical miles northwest of Garrison, North Dakota. ## Factual narrative On November 7, 2002, at 2000 central standard time, a Cessna 150M, N2995V, collided with terrain during an attempted off airport go-around, 3 miles west of New Town, North Dakota. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The last leg of the cross country flight originated in Hot Springs, South Dakota, at 1715 with the intended destination of Minot, North Dakota. The pilot reported that he was following Highway 83 to Minot. He stated that once he passed Bismarck, he noticed he was getting low on fuel so he attempted to contact Bismarck Air Traffic Control to land, to no avail. He reported he again began to follow the highway, but it was dark, and the highway disappeared in the darkness because there were no vehicles on it. The pilot then decided to land at Garrison, North Dakota, for fuel. He reported that upon approaching Garrison, he saw ground lights, which he mistook was being the airport. While on final approach, he discovered that the lights were actually a trailer court. He applied power to go-around, and the airplane contacted a hill in front of it. The pilot reported that he did not see the hill due to the darkness and the lack of horizon. The accident site was approximately 45 nautical miles northwest of Garrison, North Dakota. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2995V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2995V-2003-12-02), registration cancelled 2003-12-02, S/N 15076345, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15076345 - Airframe hours: 14600 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Raymond H. Buell - Registered owner: Jassen Bowman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 2002 - Departed: HSR, Hot Springs, CO - Destination: MOT, Minot, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 7, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,822 total, 251 in this make and model, 1,722 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: ISN, 47 nm away 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.