# NTSB LAX84LA237: Cessna 150M, N9254U, Happy Camp, CA, March 30, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1984, 06:55 local (14:55 UTC)
- Place: Happy Camp, CA
- Location: 41.8157° N, 123.3926° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Happy Camp, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8157&lon=-123.3926&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: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24218
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA237
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24218/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA237

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pressure induced by others, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE WAITING FOR FOG TO 'BURN OFF,' THE PLT PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT & THEN WAITED FOR ABOUT 45 MIN AT THE END OF THE RWY. HE THEN DECIDED TO TAKEOFF WHILE THE WX WAS STILL IMC. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT ENTERED INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS & BEGAN TURNING TO THE LEFT. THE PLT STATED, 'ABOUT THE TIME I WAS STARTING TO GET THINGS SORTED OUT, THE TREES APPEARED OUT OF THE FOG.' HE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE, BUT THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED. THE PLT STATED THAT HIS DECISION TO TAKEOFF IN IMC WAS INFLUENCED BY HIS WIFE'S FAILING ABILITY TO COPE WITH THEIR SEPARATION DURING HIS NEW JOB & HIS BOSS'S EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS THAT HE DIDN'T WANT ANYONE LATE OR OFF ON THAT DAY. ALSO, THE PLT FELT A NEED TO PROVE TO EVERYONE THAT AN ACFT COULD BE DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N9254U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078204
- Airframe hours: 2365
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William D. Sauer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1984
- Destination: 105, MONTAGUE, CA
- Airport: 36S, Happy Camp, runway 4, 3,000 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 279 total, 250 in this make and model, 247 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: 39 °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 19840330007939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840330007939A), Mar 30, 1984: Cessna 150M, Happy Camp, CA, Destroyed. VFR pilot took off into dense fog in attempt to climb out on top. Drifted left into trees on rising terrain.

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.

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