- Date
- March 23, 1997, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Petersburg, IN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8196SCessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 15, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970323003429A
- Case key
- 10532
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 failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall. Low altitude flight is a contributing factor.
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 was flying at a low altitude above ground level, near a relatives house. The pilot was looking out the window of the airplane when he noticed that the airplane's sink rate had become excessive. Aircraft pitch attitude and power were increased by the pilot in an attempt to miss approaching trees. The airplane settled into the top of the trees. No mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot. Under recommendations for how this accident could have been prevented the pilot wrote 'more altitude/more airspeed.'
Factual narrative
On March 23, 1997 at 1400 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 150, N8196S, sustained substantial damage when the airplane impacted with trees while maneuvering at low altitude near Petersburg, Indiana. The commercial rated pilot was flying near a relatives house, at the time of the accident. The pilot was not injured in the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Washington, Indiana, at 1315 est.
The pilot reported on the pilot operator accident report, NTSB form 6120.1/2, that he was on a personal flight, when he decided to fly by his relative's house. After the first pass by the house, the pilot reported that he turned the airplane to a west bound heading, and slowed the airplane. The pilot stated that he was looking out the window of the airplane when he noticed that the airplane's sink rate had become excessive. In an attempt to miss approaching trees, the pilot increased the pitch attitude and power on the airplane. Upon reaching the trees, the pilot reported, the airplane settled into the top of the trees. After settling into the trees the airplane pitched over, and the pilot reported that he pulled the throttle back. No mechanical malfunctions were reported by the pilot. Under recommendations for how this accident could have been prevented the pilot wrote "more altitude/more airspeed."
The leading edges of the wings and horizontal were crushed. The right wing strut, cowling, engine mount, and propeller were bent.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8196S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15061796
- Airframe hours
- 4,794
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ronald Brothers
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 3, 1997 · 4 hours before
- Departed
- DCY · Washington, IN
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
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,656 total · 423 in this make and model · 1,181 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HNB, 22 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.
Other investigations on N8196S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.