# NTSB NYC05CA078: Cessna 150F, N6256R, China, ME, April 30, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 30, 2005, 14:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: China, ME - Coordinates: 44.479999, -69.531669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4800&lon=-69.5317&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: PWM FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61397 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05CA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61397/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05CA078 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper inflight decision to land in a field instead of a nearby airport, after encountering deteriorating weather conditions. A factor was the deteriorating weather conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - other (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - precautionary landing - performed - terrain condition - soft - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While en route to his destination, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions and elected to perform a precautionary landing to a field, "to avoid flight into IMC." During the landing rollout, the airplane encountered a rut in the soft, rain-soaked field, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the Federal Aviation Administration Montreal Sectional Aeronautical Chart revealed several airports along the pilot's planned route of flight. ## Factual narrative On April 30, 2005, at 1410 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N6256R, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing to a field in China, Maine. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight which originated at the Millinocket Municipal Airport (MLT), Millinocket, Maine and was destined for the Berlin Municipal Airport (BML), Berlin, New Hampshire. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, while en route to Berlin, he encountered deteriorating weather conditions earlier than anticipated, based on the weather forecast he obtained from television weather reports he obtained earlier in the day. As the visibility decreased, the pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing to a field, "to avoid flight into IMC conditions." During the landing rollout, the airplane encountered a rut in the soft, rain-soaked field, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. Weather conditions reported at Waterville Airport, Waterville, Maine, 5 miles to the northwest of the accident site, at 1415 included winds from 150 degrees at 7 knots gusting to 14 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken cloud layer at 3,100 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet, temperature 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and dew point 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Examination of the Federal Aviation Administration Montreal Sectional Aeronautical Chart revealed several airports along the pilot's planned route of flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6256R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6256R-2007-05-23), registration cancelled 2007-05-23, S/N 15061556, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15061556 - Airframe hours: 4112 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Louis Desmond - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2004, 9 hours before - Departed: MLT, MILLINOCKET, ME - Destination: BML, Berlin, NH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,246 total, 203 in this make and model, 1,105 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: WVL, 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 20050430007349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050430007349A), Apr 30, 2005: Cessna 150F, China, ME, Substantial damage. (-23) On 04-30-2005, a Cessna 150F, registration N6256R was being operated on a VFR pleasure flight. The flight originated from berlin, NH (bml) at… ## Other investigations on N6256R (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC69F0373](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69F0373), Apr 1, 1969: Cessna 15OF (N6256R), Sanford, ME, substantial damage 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.