# NTSB DEN00LA128: Cessna 150J, N50812, Spanish Fork, UT, July 10, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 10, 2000, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Coordinates: 40.02095, -111.549011 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0209&lon=-111.5490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49665
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA128
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49665/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA128

## Probable cause

The pilot in command's failure to maintain aircraft directional control.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

The pilot said that when he raised the tail to lift off during the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the right.  'I lost left rutter (sic).  I went off runway and ran into a ditch.'  Black skid marks from the left main tire were noted on the runway for the last 100 feet.  Examination of the brakes revealed no discrepancies.  There was no evidence power had been reduced when control was lost.

## Factual narrative

On July 10, 2000, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150J (tail wheel conversion), N50812, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during its takeoff roll at Spanish Fork-Springville Airport, Spanish Fork, Utah.  The private pilot and his private pilot certificated-passenger sustained minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The following is based on the pilot's accident report and a verbal statement he gave to an FAA inspector:  When he raised the tail to lift off during takeoff from runway 12, the airplane veered to the right.  "I lost left rutter (sic).  I went off runway and ran into a ditch."

According to the FAA inspector who went to the scene, black skid marks from the left main tire, were noted on the runway for the last 100 feet.  Examination of the brakes revealed no discrepancies.  The inspector said there was no evidence power had been reduced when control was lost.  The wind at Provo, Utah, located 6 miles northwest of Spanish Fork, was 110 degrees at 3 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50812](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50812-2001-03-05), registration cancelled 2001-03-05, S/N 15069567 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150J
- Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15069567
- Airframe hours: 2227
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hilton D. Hobbs
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 19, 1999, 62 hours before
- Departed: U77, SPANISH FORK, UT
- Destination: PVU, PROVO, UT
- Airport: U77, Spanish Fork-Springville, runway 12, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 117 total, 114 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PVU, 6 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 20000710012399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000710012399A), Jul 10, 2000: Cessna 150J, Spanish Fork, UT, No damage. (-23) Pilot initiated takeoff roll, raised tail, aircraft started moving to the right. Pilot stated he applied left rudder with no change in direction. Skid…

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.