- Date
- June 5, 2003, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Londonderry, VT
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N704TGCessna 150M
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 1, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20030605016589A
- Case key
- 57150
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 pilots inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions and his failure to maintain a safe altitude above the rising terrain. Factors related to the accident were the low ceilings and rising terrain.
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.
Analysis
Prior to departure, the pilot requested flight following services from air traffic control. While flying along an airway, approximately 40 miles south of the departure airport, air traffic control advised the pilot that he was too low for a hand off, and terminated flight following services. According to a witness, the airplane was in and out of the clouds as it maneuvered around a mountain. The airplane wreckage was located approximately 100 feet below the peak of the mountain, in a wooded area. The pilot had no recollection of the accident due to the severe head injuries suffered.
Factual narrative
On June 5, 2003, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N704TG, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain while maneuvering around Magic Mountain, Londonderry, Vermont. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated at Burlington International Airport (BTV) Burlington, Vermont, about 0812, destined for Marlboro Airport (9B1), Marlboro, Massachusetts. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, prior to departing Burlington, the pilot requested flight following to Marlboro Airport from air traffic control. After the departure, the airplane proceeded south on Victor Airway 229 (V229). About 40 miles south of Burlington, the air traffic controller advised the pilot that he was too low for a handoff to Boston Center, and terminated the flight following. No further communications were received from the pilot.
A witness, who was at the base of Magic Mountain, stated that he observed the airplane flying in and out of clouds as it circled the mountain. He also added that the top portion of the mountain was obscured in cloud cover.
The wreckage came to rest approximately 100 feet below the peak of Magic Mountain, in a wooded area.
On June 6, 2003, an FAA inspector examined the airplane wreckage. The right wing was separated from the fuselage, and the left wing was substantially damaged. Both the left and right fuel tanks were ruptured, and no fuel was observed in either tank or around the surrounding terrain.
In a statement provided by the pilot, he stated "Due to the closed-head injury which I suffered during the accident, which caused brain swelling and amnesia, I have no recollection of the accident itself, of the week prior, or thereafter."
The peak of Magic Mountain reached to an elevation of 2,953 feet msl, and was located about 9 miles west of V229.
The pilot reported 137 hours of total flight experience, which included 113 hours in the same make and model of the accident airplane. The pilot of the airplane was not instrument rated.
A weather observation at the Hartness State Airport, located approximately 25 miles northwest of the accident site, at 0954, reported winds calm, visibility 10 statute miles, ceilings overcast at 1,800 feet msl, temperature 59 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point temperature 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter setting 29.78 inches of Hg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N704TG
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15078856
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental O-200-a, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Aviation Management Services Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Departed
- BTV · Burlington, VT
- Destination
- 9B1 · Marlboro, MA
- Airport
- NONE · None
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
- 45
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- June 25, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 137 total · 113 in this make and model · 54 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.78 inHg
- Observed at
- VSF, 25 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.