# NTSB FTW98LA379: Cessna 150M, N704DL, Lamar, CO, August 28, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1998, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Lamar, CO
- Coordinates: 38.080863, -102.610656 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0809&lon=-102.6107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43846
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA379
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43846/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA379

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain climb airspeed, and inadvertently allowing the airplane to stall/mush.  A factor was the embankment.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - short field takeoff/procedure - attempted, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot used 10 degrees of flaps 'for a short field takeoff' in an attempt to take off from a farmer's hayfield.  The airplane lifted off at 50 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed) and began climbing.  The pilot then noticed the airplane had begun descending.  He said engine power 'was 100 per cent and airspeed was less than 50 knots.'  The airplane struck the ground, crossed a drainage ditch, collided with an embankment, and nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On August 28, 1998, approximately 1400 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N704DL, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during takeoff from an open field near Lamar, Colorado.  The student pilot, the sole occupant aboard, sustained minor injuries.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional solo flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot said he departed Air Care Crop Dusting, a private airstrip located about 8 miles northeast of Lamar, and flew to a farmer-friend's hayfield at May Valley, Colorado, located about 5 miles north of Lamar, where he landed.  After having a conversation with his friend, he departed.  According to his accident report, the pilot used 10 (degrees) of flaps "for a short field takeoff."  The airplane lifted off at 50 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed) and began climbing.  The pilot then noticed the airplane had begun descending.  He said engine power "was 100 per cent and airspeed was less than 50 knots."  The airplane struck the ground, crossed a drainage ditch, collided with an embankment, and nosed over.  The left wing was bent and the vertical stabilizer was crushed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N704DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704DL-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 15078528, built 1976 (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: 15078528
- Airframe hours: 6533
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: David Payne
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1998, 20 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: LAA, LAMAR, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 41 total, 5 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °F

## 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 19980828022469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980828022469A), Aug 28, 1998: Cessna 150M, Lamar, CO, Substantial damage. Acft landed in a field and the nose gear struck something on takeoff causing the acft to flip over. (-23)the aircraft departed a privatestrip north of Lamar.…

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.