# NTSB NYC93LA142: Cessna 152L, N10489, East Berne, NY, August 3, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1993, 09:17 local (13:17 UTC) - Place: East Berne, NY - Coordinates: 42.610897, -74.049652 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6109&lon=-74.0497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38621 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC93LA142 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38621/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA142 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight planning for a departure from a short field and his failure to attain a proper climb rate, resulting in an in-flight collision with a 5 foot pole located on rising terrain, 20 feet above the airport elevation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - uphill - object - fence post - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED FROM A 1400 FOOT GRAVEL RUNWAY TOWARD RISING TERRAIN. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER CROSSING THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY THE AIRPLANE CEASED CLIMBING. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A 5-FOOT POLE, 20 FEET ABOVE THE AIRPORT ELEVATION, 600 FEET FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT CALCULATED THE TAKEOFF WEIGHT TO BE 38 POUNDS UNDER THE MAXIMUM. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK, THE AIRPLANE REQUIRED A GROUND ROLL OF 900 FEET FOR A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF, AND 1660 FEET TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE POLE APPROXIMATELY 2000 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On Tuesday, August 3, 1993, at 0917 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N10489, piloted by Dennis Warner, struck a pole and impacted the ground during climbout from the Heldeberg Airport, East Berne, New York. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he had calculated the airplane takeoff weight to be approximately 38 pounds below the maximum allowed of 1,600 pounds. He further stated: "The wind was calm with an occasional 1 or 2 knot breeze down from the hills to the south, which was 90 degrees to the runway...To the east there is a clear way of about 2500 feet over a gradually upsloping hayfield...climbing over the fence, the aircraft ceased climbing...I believe I picked up a quartering tail wind...The sun was directly in my line of vision, hindering my ability...to see the large fence post. I banked and missed the post with the nose wheel...but the left horizontal stabilator hit the fence post, causing the nose wheel to contact the ground and fold. The left wing hit the ground, and we slid to a stop..." In a telephone interview with the airport manager, Randy Engel, he stated that there is a 4-foot wire fence at the departure end of the runway. He also stated that the terrain rises about 20 feet above the airport elevation, beyond the departure end of the runway, where N10489 struck a 5-foot pole. He further stated that the pole was located about 600 feet from the departure end of the runway. The airplane departure was to the southeast, from a 1,400 foot gravel runway. The reported winds at the Albany Airport, Albany, New York, located 15 miles from Heldeberg Airport, were from 120 degrees at 4 knots. According to the Cessna Pilot Operating Handbook, the calculated ground run for a short field takeoff was 900 feet, and the takeoff distance to clear a 50 foot obstacle was 1660 feet. The runway length plus the distance to the pole equaled 2,000 feet. In that available distance the airplane accomplished a total climb of about 25 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10489](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10489-1993-10-27), registration cancelled 1993-10-27, S/N 15074887 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152L - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15074887 - Airframe hours: 9749 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tod Simoneau - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1992, 80 hours before - Destination: MHT, MANCHESTER, MA - Airport: NY81, Heldeberg Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,175 total, 198 in this make and model, 6,200 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ALB, 15 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 19930803027529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930803027529A), Aug 3, 1993: Cessna 150L, East Berne, NY, Substantial damage. Tried depart short strip. Unable climb rising terrain. Hit pole 600 ft from runway. Full load. Climbed only 25 fpm. 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.