# NTSB ERA23LA222: Cessna 150M, N150VL, Hernando, FL, May 8, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 7, 2023, 21:35 local (May 8, 2023, 01:35 UTC) - Place: Hernando, FL - Coordinates: 28.960089, -82.363098 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9601&lon=-82.3631&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 114705 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/114705/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114705 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA222 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from obstacles during takeoff at night. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he and the pilot-rated passenger were practicing full-stop landings from the turf runway on a dark, moonless night. The passenger had already completed three full-stop landings and he had completed two. The accident flight was going to be his last landing. During a takeoff, he lost visual reference of the tree line along the side of the runway and contacted some treetops. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground and the leading edges of the wings, and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot and the passenger were seriously injured. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N150VL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N150VL-2023-10-10), registration cancelled 2023-10-10, S/N 15076672, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15076672 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 9408 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flying Low Engineering Inc - Registered owner: Flying Low Engineering Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2023 - Airport: 5FL7, Twelve Oaks, runway 4, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,360 total, 3,200 in this make and model, 10,069 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: INF, 9 nm away - METAR: KINF 080135Z AUTO 13003KT 7SM CLR 23/16 A3013 RMK AO2 ## 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 20230507006819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230507006819A), May 7, 2023: Cessna 150M, Hernando, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot was doing touch and go's at airport 5FL7 around 2050. Pilot took off from R22 with the aircraft set up for flight. Shortly after rotation, the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=114705. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15651842&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15527678&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15528886&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s-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.