- Date
- December 20, 2005, 19:38 local (Dec 21, 2005, 01:38 UTC)
- Place
- Algona, IA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9292UCessna 150M
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report March 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Des Moines, IA, FSDO
- FAA report
- 20051220029119A
- Case key
- 63052
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 inadvertent flight into unexpected instrument conditions and his visual look out not possible during takeoff leading to the nose over during the emergency landing after takeoff. Factors were the unexpected fog and the dark night conditions.
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 airplane piloted by a non-instrument rated private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain and subsequent nose over during an off field landing after takeoff when the flight encountered unexpected fog about 1938. Dark night visual to instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot had returned from a cross country flight. The pilot stated, "On ground [approximately] 8 min[utes]. Took off AXA for a local flight. Sky looked clear. Rotated [and] climb to about 70'. Then engulfed in fog. ... Turned right to make open field to north of AXA. Could not see anything at this time. Cut power, leveled wings, [and] tried to just hold that attitude to reduce impact. Hit slightly nose down [attitude]. Skidded, then flipped over." The pilot checked the AXA Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS). He stated that AWOS indicated clear weather before the flight. At 1915, the recorded weather was: Wind 310 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 7 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature -15 degrees C; Dew point -18 degrees C; altimeter 30.22 inches of mercury. At 1935, the recorded weather was: Wind 310 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 1/4 statute mile; present weather light snow; sky condition overcast 100 feet, temperature -14 degrees C; dew point -18 degrees C; altimeter 30.22 inches of mercury.
Factual narrative
On December 20, 2005, about 1938, a Cessna150M, N9292U, piloted by a non-instrument rated private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain and subsequent nose over during an off field landing after takeoff when the flight encountered fog near Algona, Iowa. The personal flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night visual to instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger reported minor injuries. The local flight was originating from the Algona Municipal Airport (AXA), near Algona, Iowa.
The pilot's accident report stated:
Returned from [Mason City Municipal Airport, Mason City, Iowa, to]
AXA. (5:00pm [to] 7:30pm) [Weather] was clear dark night. (clear
below 12000') Terrain flat. Landed AXA. On ground [approximately]
8 min[utes]. [Approximately] 7:38pm took off AXA for a local flight.
Sky looked clear. Rotated [and] climb to about 70'. Then engulfed in
fog. ... Turned right to make open field to north of AXA. Could not see
anything at this time. Cut power, leveled wings, [and] tried to just hold
that attitude to reduce impact. Hit slightly nose down [attitude].
Skidded, then flipped over.
The pilot checked the AXA Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS). He stated that AWOS indicated clear weather before the flight.
At 1915, the recorded weather at AXA was: Wind 310 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 7 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature -15 degrees C; Dew point -18 degrees C; altimeter 30.22 inches of mercury.
At 1935, the recorded weather at AXA was: Wind 310 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 1/4 statute mile; present weather light snow; sky condition overcast 100 feet, temperature -14 degrees C; dew point -18 degrees C; altimeter 30.22 inches of mercury.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9292U
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15078242
- Airframe hours
- 6,625.9
- Engine
- Continental O-200, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James A. Kohlhaas
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 2005 · 2.3 hours before
- Departed
- AXA · Algona, IA
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
- 47
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 192 total · 106 in this make and model · 4 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 0.25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 7 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.21 inHg
- Observed at
- AXA
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.