# NTSB LAX88LA284: Cessna 150M, N704GJ, Gila Bend, AZ, August 11, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 11, 1988, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Gila Bend, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.989692, -112.900283 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9897&lon=-112.9003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26078
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA284
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26078/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA284

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, landing - roll
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AT THE END OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT OVERFLEW THE RUNWAY LOOKING FOR THE WIND SOCK. UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOCK, THE PILOT MADE AN APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE PILOT DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL TOO LATE THAT HE WAS LANDING THE AIRPLANE WITH A 10 KNOT TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT DID NOT ATTEMPT A GO-AROUND DUE TO RISING TERRAIN AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY THAT THE PILOT FELT WOULD NOT BE CLEARED. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N704GJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078597
- Airframe hours: 2572
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ashley, Seymour
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 1987, 127 hours before
- Departed: DVT, PHOENIX, AZ
- Destination: GILA BEND, AZ
- Airport: Paul Heil, runway 15, 1,500 × 36 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, invalid medical for flight; seat: left; flight hours: 286 total, 232 in this make and model, 221 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 15 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19880811033759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880811033759A), Aug 11, 1988: Cessna 150M, Gila Bend, AZ, Substantial damage. No wind sock, landed in a 15 knot tail wind. Ran off end of runway and overturned. Pilots medical had expired.

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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