FTW86FRG03

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150G · Geronimo, TX · November 10, 1985

Accident · Serious injuriesFinal report
Date
November 10, 1985, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC)
Place
Geronimo, TX
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N4754XCessna 150G
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19851110057739A
Case key
21960

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Weather condition - tailwindCause
Procedures/directives - not followedPilot in commandCause
Wrong runway - selectedPilot in commandCause
Aircraft performance,climb capability - exceededCause
Climb - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Precautionary landing - performedPilot in command
Object - wire,transmission
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - ditch

Analysis

The acft failed to achieve proper climb to clear pwr lines during takeoff initial climb. The takeoff was performed on a 700 ft long grass strip in a downwind direction. When it became questionable that the acft could climb over a pwr line the plt cut the power to idle and landed. The acft struck a ditch and was damaged. The takeoff was to the north and the wind was from aprx 145 degrees at about 10 KTS.

Aircraft

Registration
N4754X
Reported as
Cessna 150G
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15064804
Airframe hours
4,771
Engine
Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Francis M. Burroughs, Jr.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Airport
Haston Ranch, runway 36, 700 × 0 ft, grass/turf

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
35
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
985 total · 140 in this make and model · 800 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 9 knots
Visibility
8 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
12,000 ft broken
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
SAT, 35 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.