# NTSB DEN02LA079: Cessna 150F, N8067S, Grants, NM, July 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2002, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Grants, NM - Coordinates: 35.152221, -107.924163 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1522&lon=-107.9242&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN02LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55279/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55279 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA079 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, and his failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors were the high density altitude conditions, the terrain barrier (berm). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - terrain condition - berm (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot stated that he climbed approximately 350 feet and made one circle to climb to altitude. The airplane was having difficulty climbing. As he executed a shallow turn back toward the airport, the pilot had difficulty maintaining altitude. He was considering an off-field landing, but realized there was a soil berm in his flight path. The pilot "eased" the control column back to clear the berm, and the airplane stalled. The airplane then struck the ground, bending both wing tips up, and bending both the engine mount and firewall. The density altitude was calculated to be 9,322 feet. The service ceiling of the airplane was12,650 feet. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2002, at approximately 1345 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N8067S, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain while attempting to return to the airport immediately after takeoff from Grants-Milan Municipal Airport, Grants, New Mexico. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight which was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan; he said his next planned stop was Moriarty, New Mexico. The pilot stated that he climbed approximately 350 feet and made one circle to climb to altitude. The airplane was having difficulty climbing. As he executed a shallow turn back toward the airport, the airplane had difficulty maintaining altitude. He was considering an off-field landing, but realized there was a soil berm in his flight path. The pilot "eased" the control column back to clear the berm, and the airplane stalled. The airplane then struck the ground, bending both wing tips up, and bending both the engine mount and firewall. The density altitude was calculated to be 9,322 feet. The airplane's POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook) states that the service ceiling of this aircraft was 12,650 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8067S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8067S-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 15061667, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15061667 - Airframe hours: 2340.5 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sherwin Wallick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2002, 52.2 hours before - Departed: GNT, Grants, NM - Destination: OEO, Moriarty, NM - Airport: GNT, Grants - Milan Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 14, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 713 total, 170 in this make and model, 713 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: GNT, 1 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 20020718021969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020718021969A), Jul 18, 2002: Cessna 150F, Grants, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that he computed his weight and balance, and was 47 pounds under gross. The density altitude was reported on the airport ASOS as being… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 7, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55279. 345 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 345 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463349&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.