# NTSB ERA21LA217: Cessna 150, N3396J, Brewton, AL, May 15, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 15, 2021, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Brewton, AL · On closed runway 18 - Coordinates: 31.050711, -87.067267 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0507&lon=-87.0673&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103086/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103086 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA217 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with the ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was participating in a “flour bag drop” competition and reported that while he was flying about 50-100 ft above a closed runway, he “got too slow and stalled.” He attempted to recover; however, there was insufficient altitude, and the airplane impacted the runway nose first. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts and firewall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3396J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3396J-2023-10-21), registration cancelled 2023-10-21, S/N 15066096, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (G) - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15066096 - Year built: 1967 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Deatherage James R - Registered owner: Deatherage James R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 12J, Brewton Muni, runway 18, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review December 19, 2019; seat: left; flight hours: 30,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 29,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KNSE, 20 nm away - METAR: METAR KNSE 151556Z AUTO 10SM CLR 24/09 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP230 T02390094 $= ## 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 20210515009779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210515009779A), May 15, 2021: Cessna 150G, Brewton, AL, Substantial damage. The aircraft was flying at a low altitude and a slow maneuvering speed over the runway when the aircraft stalled. Not having enough altitude to recover, the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103086. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12340161&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12339348&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-ROC%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12340787&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-ROC%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12340892&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.