# NTSB ERA24LA278: Cessna 150, N7340X, Swans Island, ME, June 25, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 25, 2024, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Swans Island, ME - Coordinates: 44.165486, -68.429078 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1655&lon=-68.4291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 194556 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194556/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194556 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA278 ## Probable cause The pilot’s delayed decision to abort the landing. Contributing was his decision to land downwind. ## 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 150B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071806), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2071806), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071806), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 150B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2071806), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the tailwind for the selected turf runway was “5 to 10 [knots] with some gusting.” He said the winds “did not seem unruly…” so he continued the approach and once he was close to the ground the winds were “very flukey.” He said with full reduction of throttle, 30° of flaps, and speed slowed to “landing” the airplane would not “settle down.” At touchdown, the pilot said he was “too long.” He then increased throttle, and “released the flaps and carb heat to go around.” The pilot said that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane preventing normal operation, it simply did not have the performance capability to outclimb the trees. The pilot said the airplane’s left wing brushed a tree reducing its airspeed, and the stall warning sounded intermittently before the airplane “careened” into treetops before it settled nose down onto the ground. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and empennage. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot said a go-around performed “sooner” than the touch-and-go landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7340X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7340X), registered now, S/N 15059440, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 150B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150b) (registry code 2071806) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15059440 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 5010.2 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 2022, 6.3 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: ME5, Banks, runway 10/28, 1,500 × 30 ft, gravel - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 24, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 541 total, 405 in this make and model, 495 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: BHB, 17 nm away - METAR: KBHB 252156Z AUTO 20011KT 10SM CLR 24/16 A2972 RMK AO2 SLP066 T02390156 ## 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 20240625008989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240625008989A), Jun 25, 2024: Cessna 150B, Swan'S Island, ME, Substantial damage. Swans Island, ME (ME5) 06/25/2024 @ 1750L: [privacy data omitted], C150, crashed into several trees on departure at end of rwy 10. Pilot sustained minor… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194556. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17415748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 2, MP4, 616 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17416184&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=MOV_4335-Rel.mp4 - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17422668&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.