# NTSB NYC01LA146: Cessna 150J, N61138, West Mifflin, PA, June 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 2001, 12:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: West Mifflin, PA - Coordinates: 40.359584, -79.900718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3596&lon=-79.9007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 7, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52491 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52491/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA146 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while picking up a banner, and subsequent delay in releasing the banner, resulting in a stall/mush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - load jettison - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis As the airplane departed from the runway, the pilot deployed the tow hook and climbed to 150 feet. The pilot then "sidestepped" to the right of the runway to pick up the banner, which was set up on the grass about half way down the runway. The pilot "crossed the pickup rope at too slow of an airspeed, approximately 55-60 MPH, versus a normal target speed of approximately 70 to 80 MPH." The pilot then pitched the airplane upward, catching the rope with the tow hook, and soon realized that "there were problems in climbing out." After about 5 seconds, the pilot considered releasing the banner, but decided against the idea, due to releasing the banner on a crossing runway. After clearing the runway area, the pilot released the banner, about 100 feet above the ground, "and in an incipient stall attitude." Unable to climb, and not enough altitude to gain any additional airspeed, the pilot began to raise and lower the nose of the airplane to avoid a stall. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane to an open parking lot for a forced landing, the airplane struck power lines and impacted a utility pole, shearing off the right wing. The airplane descended to the ground, and came to rest upright. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2001, about 1210 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N61138, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a banner pick-up near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local banner-tow flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, this was his second banner tow operation of the day. As the airplane departed from runway 31, the pilot deployed the tow hook and climbed to 150 feet. The pilot then "sidestepped" to the right of the runway to pick up the banner, which was set up on the grass about half way down the runway. In the initial climb, the pilot "throttled back" because on the previous banner pickup, he realized that he had "more than enough airspeed." However, on this attempt, "I crossed the pickup rope at too slow of an airspeed, approximately 55-60 MPH, versus a normal target speed of approximately 70 to 80 MPH." The pilot pitched the airplane upward, catching the rope with the tow hook, and soon realized that "there were problems in climbing out." The pilot reached down and placed his hand on the release lever as a precaution, but continued the climb. After about 5 seconds, the pilot considered releasing the banner, but decided against the idea, due to releasing the banner on a crossing runway. After clearing the runway area, the pilot released the banner, about 100 feet above the ground, "and in an incipient stall attitude." Unable to climb, and not enough altitude to gain any additional airspeed, the pilot began to raise and lower the nose of the airplane to avoid a stall. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane to an open parking lot for a forced landing, the airplane struck power lines and impacted a utility pole, shearing off the right wing. The airplane descended to the ground, and came to rest upright. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector estimated that about 25 gallons of fuel was on board the airplane at the time of the accident. The recorded weather at AGC, about the time of the accident, was winds from 180 degrees at 8 knots, and a temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61138](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61138-2001-08-16), registration cancelled 2001-08-16, S/N 15070829 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070829 - Airframe hours: 2795 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: David J. Shimeck - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 2000, 73 hours before - Departed: AGC, West Mifflin, PA - Destination: AGC - Airport: AGC, Allegheny County Airport, runway 31, 3,825 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 22, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 3,780 total, 500 in this make and model, 3,640 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: AGC, 1 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 20010614017099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010614017099A), Jun 14, 2001: Cessna 150J, Westmifflin, PA, No damage. (-23) On June 14, 2001, a Cessna 150-J aircraft, N61138, departed runway 31, side stepped the runway and picked a 20 x 50 foot advertising banner up. The… 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.