# NTSB MIA94LA080: Cessna 150M, N704BY, Pierson, FL, February 25, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1994, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Pierson, FL
- Coordinates: 29.800704, -81.260993 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8007&lon=-81.2610&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 18, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37499
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA080
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37499/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA080

## Probable cause

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

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N704BY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704BY-1994-08-02), registration cancelled 1994-08-02, S/N 15078493 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078493
- Airframe hours: 9807
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19940225005749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940225005749A), Feb 25, 1994: Cessna 150M, Pierson, FL, Substantial damage. Early liftoff. Stayed in ground efect until nearing trees. Pulled up and stalled into trees.

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.