# NTSB DEN08LA102: Cessna 150G, N4691R, Brenham, TX, June 10, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 2008, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Brenham, TX - Coordinates: 30.218889, -96.374443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2189&lon=-96.3744&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 68204 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68204/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA102 ## Probable cause The sudden windshift (crosswind gust), rendering directional control impossible. Contributing factors in this accident were the high speed during the aborted takeoff and trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot said he checked the weather and radar and noted "a few small showers in the area, nothing close." He said the airport was surrounded by 15-20 foot trees that jut out from the perimeter of the airport towards the runway. There was a 10-knot crosswind, so the pilot selected runway 16 "since it has a down slope." He used a crosswind takeoff procedure. When he rotated, "a tremendous gust of wind hit the aircraft from the rear-left quarter and forced the aircraft sideways off the runway and towards some trees" near the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff but was unable to stop the airplane and it collided with the trees. According to the airport's AWOS, the wind was from 100 degrees at 5 knots, with "lightning distant east and southeast." ## Factual narrative On June 10, 2008, approximately 1250 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N4691R, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a grove of trees following a loss of control during takeoff from Brenham Municipal Airport (11R), Brenham, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial observation flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Conroe, Texas (CXO). In his accident report, the pilot said he checked the weather and radar and noted "a few small showers in the area, nothing close." He said the airport was surrounded by 15 to 20-foot trees that "jut out from the perimeter of the airport towards the runway." There was a 10 knot crosswind, so the pilot selected runway 16 "since it has a down slope." He used a crosswind takeoff procedure. When he rotated, "a tremendous gust of wind hit the aircraft from the rear-left quarter and forced the aircraft sideways off the runway and towards some trees" near the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff but was unable to stop the airplane and it collided with the trees. According to the 11R AWOS (Automated Weather Observation Station) report at 1246, the wind was from 100 degrees at 5 knots, with "lightning distant east and southeast." ## Aircraft - Registration: N4691R (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150G - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064741 - Airframe hours: 6339 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: American Views, Inc. - Registered owner: A&G Aircraft Leasing, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2008, 47 hours before - Departed: 11R, Brenham, TX - Destination: CXO, Conroe, TX - Airport: 11R, Brenham Municipal, runway 16, 5,496 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,474 total, 625 in this make and model, 1,432 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: 11R 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.