# NTSB IAD96LA124: Cessna 150, N61049, Waverly, OH, August 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 1996, 01:50 local (05:50 UTC) - Place: Waverly, OH - Coordinates: 39.119876, -82.980422 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1199&lon=-82.9804&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28091 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28091/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA124 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with subsequent loss of visual contact and collision with the ground. Darkness and fog were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported he was in a left hand traffic pattern for a night landing at Pike County Airport, and he had turned base leg to land on runway 25. He said that he had the rotating beacon in sight and that he had activated the runway lights. The pilot stated, 'The approach was uneventful until I turned base in the descent. I found myself abruptly in very dense fog. I lost all visual reference outside the cockpit. My first reaction was to search for the runway lights, but this was to no avail. I did note that the aircraft instruments indicated that I was in a left bank turn and descending. As I took action to level the wings, the aircraft made contact with the ground.' ## Factual narrative On August 8, 1996, at 0050 eastern daylight time (EDT) a Cessna 150, N61049, collided with terrain while on the base leg to land on runway 25 at Waverly/Pike County Airport, in Waverly, Ohio. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The flight originated in Portsmouth, Ohio, at 0030 EDT, with an intended destination of Waverly, Ohio (I57). The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspector that the airplane was in a left hand traffic pattern and had turned base leg to land on runway 25. The pilot reported that he had the rotating beacon in sight and that he had activated the runway lights. He said that after turning final he encountered fog, became disoriented, and then collided with terrain. The airplane came to rest approximately 1/2 mile from the approach end of runway 25 at Waverly/Pike County Airport. According to the pilot, "The approach was uneventful until I turned base in the descent. I found myself abruptly in very dense fog. I lost all visual reference outside the cockpit. My first reaction was to search for the runway lights, but this was to no avail. I did note that the aircraft instruments indicated that I was in a left bank turn and descending. As I took action to level the wings, the aircraft made contact with the ground." The FAA Safety Inspector reported, "Due to [the pilot's] attempt to scan between inside references and outside references he became totally disoriented." He added that the accident was "... consistent with a VFR pilot continuing flight into IMC conditions and then controlled flight into terrain." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61049](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61049-1997-03-24), registration cancelled 1997-03-24, S/N 15070763 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070763 - Airframe hours: 2551 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walter S. Joiner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1995, 36 hours before - Departed: PMH, PORTSMOUTH, OH - Destination: I57 - Airport: I57, Pike County, runway 25, 4,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 178 total, 91 as pilot in command, 26 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KLC, 73 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960804020779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960804020779A), Aug 4, 1996: Cessna 150J, Waverly, OH, Destroyed. Turning final at night encountered fog. Lost control in turn. Began level too late. VFR pilot loss of control. (-23) pilot departed portsmouth, OH (pmh) for… 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.