# NTSB MIA97LA143: Cessna 150G, N3235X, Raleigh, NC, April 19, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 1997, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Raleigh, NC - Coordinates: 35.769012, -78.629585 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7690&lon=-78.6296&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38266 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38266/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA143 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain proper runway alignment during the attempted landing and go-around. Factors relating to the accident were: the gusty crosswind condition, and proximity of trees to the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - go-around - initiated, pilot in command - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said he was approaching runway 01, and as he began to flare, 'a big gust of wind blew across the runway.' The airplane started to drift off the centerline, and the pilot attempted to avoid trees by applying 'full power' and gaining airspeed. The airplane continued to drift, and struck trees along side the runway. A witness said, '...it was gusty and the wind was out of the west.' The witness heard power being applied to the airplane's engine and thought the pilot was 'going around.' He watched the airplane and said 'he had a high pitch attitude...the wind started blowing him off the runway...[the airplane] continued to drift...and hit one of the pine trees...he still had power on....' The wind was reported to be from 260 degrees at 10 gusting 16 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 1997, about 1615 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N3235X, registered to a private owner, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91, local personal flight, impacted with a tree near Raleigh, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot was not injured. The flight had originated about 15 minutes before the accident. The pilot was approaching runway 01, and on short final the airplane was seen drifting off the runway center line. The pilot stated, "as I began to flare a big gust of wind blew across the runway." He attempted to avoid trees that were in front of him by applying "full power," and gain some airspeed. The airplane continued to drift, and struck trees along side the runway. A witness standing by the wind sock at the airport told the FAA that he saw N3235X in a "normal" traffic pattern and watched him make a "normal" approach. The witnesses said, "everything looked good until he got near the [runway] numbers...it was gusty and the wind was out of the west." The witness heard power being applied to the airplane's engine, and he thought the pilot was "going around." He watched the airplane and said "he had a high pitch attitude...the wind started blowing him off the runway...[the airplane] continued to drift...and hit one of the pine trees...he still had power on...." The pilot said he called the Raleigh Flight Service Station (FSS), and received a weather briefing on the winds. He further said that he planned to fly for 2 hours, but when he got to altitude it was "rough and turbulent," so he elected to return to the departure airport. The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 260 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3235X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3235X-1998-09-18), registration cancelled 1998-09-18, S/N 15064635 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064635 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel W. Rice - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Airport: W17, Knightdale, runway 1, 3,000 × 36 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 564 total, 457 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RDU, 5 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 19970419006129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970419006129A), Apr 19, 1997: Cessna 150G, Knightdale, NC, Substantial damage. Blown off runway alignment on flare. Tried nose high go around but drifted unchecked into trees. No crosswind skill (-23) aircraft drifted off runway and hit… 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.