- Date
- February 25, 1994, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pierson, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N704BYCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940225005749A
- Case key
- 37499
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain alignment with the runway and airspeed resulting in the aircraft stalling.
Analysis
After liftoff the pilot lowered the nose and kept the aircraft in ground effect. The aircraft drifted to the left and his attempts to correct the drift were unsuccessful. He then noticed trees ahead and raised the nose of the aircraft in attempts to clear the trees. The aircraft stalled and impacted the top of the trees.
Factual narrative
On February 25, 1994, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M, N704BY, registered to Ormond Beach Aviation, Inc., collided with trees when control was lost during takeoff at Pierson Municipal Airport, Pierson, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91, instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated at Ormond Beach, Florida, on February 25, 1994, at about 1600.
The pilot stated he flew from Ormond Beach to Pierson Airport and stopped for about 30 minutes. After performing a preflight and engine runup he back tracked runway 23 for takeoff. During takeoff he lifted off at about 50 knots and stayed in ground effect. The aircraft began to drift to the left. He attempted to correct the left drift but was unsuccessful. He then noticed trees ahead and pulled the aircraft's nose up. The aircraft stalled and impacted in the top of the trees. The aircraft then came to rest in the trees. He stated he had no mechanical difficulty with the aircraft.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N704BY
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15078493
- Airframe hours
- 9,807
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ormond Beach Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 24, 1994 · 90 hours before
- Airport
- 2J8 · Pierson Munincipal, runway 23, 2,600 × 200 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 54 total · 42 in this make and model · 20 as pilot in command · 48 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAB, 10 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.