# NTSB ERA24LA060: Cessna 150, N5952T, Mount Vernon, AL, December 8, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 8, 2023, 16:11 UTC
- Place: Mount Vernon, AL
- Coordinates: 31.146308, -87.940256 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1463&lon=-87.9403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 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): 193506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193506/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193506
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA060

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to operate the airplane at a low altitude over a river, and his failure to maintain clearance from the river while maneuvering.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2071810), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he and a passenger had departed for a local sight-seeing flight and while flying low over a river the left wing impacted the water. The impact “pulled the plane into the river,” which resulted in substantial damage to the forward fuselage, wings, and tail structure. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanic malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5952T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5952T), registered now, S/N 15060652 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (D)
- Registry model: [Cessna 150D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150d) (registry code 2071810) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15060652
- Year built: 1964
- Airframe hours: 4347
- Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2023
- Departed: 2R5, St. Elmo, AL
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 155.5 total, 143.2 in this make and model, 101.9 as pilot in command, 12.2 in the last 90 days, 12.2 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Turbulence: Light
- Observed at: MOB, 31 nm away
- METAR: KMOB 081656Z 09005KT 10SM FEW035 BKN150 BKN250 18/12 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP202 T01830117

## 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 20231208021199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231208021199A), Dec 8, 2023: Cessna 150D, Mount Vernon, AL, Substantial damage. On December 8, 2023, the pilot of [privacy data omitted] departed st elmo, Alabama (2R5) for a local flight. During the flight the pilot was flying at low…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193506. 60.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 59.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16549537&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA060%206120%20_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16550017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA060%20NTSB%20MOR%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16549547&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA060%20Photo%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.

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