# NTSB FTW98LA386: Cessna 150H, N22799, Hilltop Lakes, TX, September 6, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1998, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Hilltop Lakes, TX - Coordinates: 31.030591, -96.109344 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0306&lon=-96.1093&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43888 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA386 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43888/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA386 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during takeoff. Factors were the pilot's lack of experience in grass field operations, the unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and the pilot's failure to perform a soft field takeoff procedure more suitable for the terrain [high grass]. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, takeoff - initial climb - soft field takeoff/procedure - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the airplane while trying to 'abort' on the initial takeoff climb during his third attempt to takeoff from an unimproved grass field. The first two attempts were aborted due to lack of acceleration of the aircraft through tall grass. The airplane impacted the ground with the right wing followed by the nose of the aircraft and then rolled inverted. The pilot's grass field experience consisted of 6 takeoff and landings during his private pilot training. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1998, approximately 1045 central daylight time, a Cessna 150H airplane, N22799, owned and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while aborting takeoff from an unimproved grass field near Hilltop Lakes, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Weiser, Texas, at 0925. The pilot stated that he found what looked to be the grass field he wanted to visit and entered the traffic pattern to land. During the landing flare the pilot "noticed the grass was very tall" but elected to complete the landing. While on landing roll, the pilot noted that the "drag from the grass seemed greater than expected." [The FAA reported that the landing area was not an airstrip or airport, rather an unimproved grass field about 100 feet wide and 2,500 feet long.] After the successful landing, the pilot discussed taking off from the field with his passenger. Subsequently, two maximum performance takeoff attempts were made which were aborted due to the aircraft not accelerating. After discussing the situation with his passenger, the pilot elected to "give it one more try." On the third attempt, the aircraft "lifted off at the halfway point", but the pilot realized that the "rate of climb was not good enough." He reported that the "nose cowling was blocking any view of the trees ahead", and the "grass had forced [the aircraft] to the right and toward the trees on that side at a small angle." The pilot decided to "abort" and tried to "realign the plane to the left." He "added a slight bit of left rudder then slight left aileron." Following these inputs "the adverse yaw then dragged the right wing down from an attitude of no more than 20 feet [and] the right wingtip impacted" the ground. Subsequently, the aircraft rolled "over onto its back", resulting in structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that he had accumulated 103 total flight hours, with about 6 takeoffs and landings on grass fields during his training. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22799](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22799-1999-03-09), registration cancelled 1999-03-09, S/N 15068524 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150H - Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15068524 - Airframe hours: 8598 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rodney T. Mooney - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1998, 10 hours before - Departed: NONE - Destination: EYQ, WEISER, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 103 total, 88 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 45° at 3 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19980906022689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980906022689A), Sep 6, 1998: Cessna 150H, Hilltip Lakes, TX, Substantial damage. (.4) On September 6, 1998, approximately 1045 central daylight time, a Cessna 150H airplane, N22799, owned and operated by a private individual, was… 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.