# NTSB DEN85LA115: Cessna 150M, N66387, Beulah, ND, April 6, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 6, 1985, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Beulah, ND
- Coordinates: 47.260631, -101.769805 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2606&lon=-101.7698&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16663
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16663/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA115

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE AND GUSTY WINDS ON LANDING APPROACH TO RUNWAY 28. HE SAID HIS SPEED WAS FAST TO COMPENSATE FOR THESE CONDITIONS BUT THAT HE DID NOT USE A CROSSWIND LANDING TECHNIQUE BECAUSE THE WINDS HAD CALMED DOWN. THE PILOT SAID THAT AS HE FLARED THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING, A GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT RAISED THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO A SOFT STUBBLE FIELD AND OVERTURNED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66387](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66387), registered now, S/N 15076011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 150-76011
- Airframe hours: 205
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Killdeer Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 12, 1984
- Departed: 9Y1, KILLDEER, ND
- Destination: 95D, BEULAH, ND
- Airport: 95D, Beulah, runway 28, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,559 total, 210 in this make and model, 2,534 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DIK, 70 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 19850406014969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850406014969A), Apr 6, 1985: Cessna 150M, Beulah, ND, Substantial damage. Right wing lifted by a gust on flare. Lost control of aircraft. Veered off runway into a field and overturned.

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.