- Date
- July 29, 2014, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Waterloo, NY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N66358Cessna 150M
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 2, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20140729014409A
- Case key
- 89763
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 clearance from obstructions while on approach to the runway.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
Prior to departing on the flight, the pilot referenced the Airport/Facility Directory and noted that one of the runways at the destination airport had a displaced threshold. He subsequently departed, and entered the traffic pattern to land on the 2,275-foot turf runway 28, approaching the end with the displaced threshold. The pilot became concerned with the runway's relatively short length, and on final approach, increased the airplane's descent angle in order to use as much of the runway as possible. While on short final approach, the pilot suddenly observed marked power lines that ran perpendicular to the runway, across the threshold, and immediately thereafter one of the main landing gear wheels struck the wire. The airplane then yawed to the left and pitched nose-down. The pilot attempted to correct the upset, but the airplane subsequently struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The power lines were depicted in airport information.
Factual narrative
Prior to departing on the flight, the pilot referenced the Airport/Facility Directory and noted that one of the runways at the destination airport had a displaced threshold. He subsequently departed, and entered the traffic pattern to land on the 2,275-foot turf runway 28, approaching the end with the displaced threshold. The pilot became concerned with the runway's relatively short length, and on final approach, increased the airplane's descent angle in order to use as much of the runway as possible. While on short final approach, the pilot suddenly observed marked power lines that ran perpendicular to the runway, across the threshold, and immediately thereafter one of the main landing gear wheels struck the wire. The airplane then yawed to the left and pitched nose-down. The pilot attempted to correct the upset, but the airplane subsequently struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The power lines were depicted in airport information.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66358
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15075993
- Built
- 1974
- Airframe hours
- 12,522
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Bux Aviation LLC
- Registered owner
- Bux Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2014 · 18 hours before
- Departed
- NK74 · Aurora, NY
- Destination
- D93 · Waterloo, NY
- Airport
- D93 · Airtrek, runway 28, 2,275 × 85 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 11, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 148.6 total · 139.6 in this make and model · 66 as pilot in command · 16.7 in the last 90 days · 4.5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KPEO, 15 nm away
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 13.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.