# NTSB IAD79DA071: Cessna 150, N5344Q, Oakland, MD, August 20, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 20, 1979
- Place: Oakland, MD · OAKLAND, MD
- Location: 39.4171° N, 79.4024° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Oakland, MD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4171&lon=-79.4024&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 13, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133716
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79DA071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79DA071

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3012  79/8/20  NR.OAKLAND,MD         CESSNA 150          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 57, 6504
        TIME - 1330                    N5344Q              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 205 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         OAKLAND,MD                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT STATED-LOST 1000FT IN SVR DWNDFT,UNABLE TO TURN BACK OUT OF BOWL SHAPED VALLEY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5344Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5344Q), registered now, S/N 15073244 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19790820035659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790820035659A), Aug 20, 1979: Cessna 150, Oakland, MD, Substantial damage. Pilot reported downdraft put him at an altitude at which aircraft could not climb out of bowl-shaped valley.

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.
