# NTSB NYC89LA161: Cessna 150L, N10659, Doylestown, PA, July 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 12, 1989, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Doylestown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.309646, -75.119949 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3096&lon=-75.1199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36435
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA161
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36435/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA161

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PREPARATION BY THE PILOT BY TAKING OFF WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADEQUATE RATE OF CLIMB TO CLEAR OBSTRUCTIONS BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF AND HIS FAILURE IN MAINTAINING AIRSPEED, WHICH REDUCED HIS ABILITY TO FLARE THE AIRCRAFT.  THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY WERE CONSIDERED TO BE A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lowering of flaps - improper, pilot in command
  - proper climb rate - not attained
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - flare - not attained
- Nose over, takeoff - aborted

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF, THE ACFT REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 50 TO 75 FT, WHEN HE NOTICED THE AIRSPEED WAS SLOWLY DROPPING. HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE ACFT WOULD CLEAR TREES BEYOND THE END OF THE RWY, SO HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN, NOSEWHEEL FIRST, BETWEEN THE END OF THE RWY & THE TREES, THEN IT NOSED OVER. RPRTDLY, THE FLAPS WERE IN A FULL DOWN POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N10659](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10659-1990-07-20), registration cancelled 1990-07-20, S/N 15074953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15074953
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gull Aviation,Inc.
- Registered owner: Gull Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: N88, DOYLESTOWN, PA
- Destination: N63, SUSSEX, NJ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: N88, Doylestown, runway 5, 3,004 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 70 total, 2 in this make and model, 25 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890712022199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890712022199A), Jul 12, 1989: Cessna 150L, Doylestown, PA, Substantial damage. Noticed slow speed on climbout and unable to clear trees. Aborted. Landed nose first. Flipped over. Flaps full down.

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.