# NTSB NYC97LA039: Cessna 150D, N4523U, Catawba Valley, VA, December 28, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 1996, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Catawba Valley, VA - Coordinates: 37.379497, -80.109565 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3795&lon=-80.1096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39316 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39316/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA039 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision, and his failure to attain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall after takeoff and collision with ground. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's use of inadequate terrain for takeoff, high vegetation in the takeoff area, and the prevailing tailwind for takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - airspeed - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot departed a non-towered airport on a 700 mile cross-country flight. The first planned refueling stop was 185 miles south of the departure airport. About 30 minutes from the refuel stop, the pilot determined that the airport was IFR, and flew west to locate another airport. After about 25 minutes, he performed a precautionary landing to an 1,800 foot farm field, and the airplane struck wires on final approach, which resulted in minor damage. The pilot purchased auto fuel from the property owner and received directions to a local airport. He then attempted a down hill, downwind takeoff, in heavy grass. The airplane became airborne, the stall horn beeped, and then the airplane struck the ground. There was no record of the pilot receiving a weather briefing. The departure airport, the refuel stop, and the intended alternate were non-towered airports. The pilot by-passed two VFR airports with operating control towers during his search for an alternate airport. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 1996, at 1215 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150D, N4523U, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain after takeoff from a farm field near Catawba, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Cumberland, Maryland, about 0730, destined for Danville, Virginia. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the pilot's written statement, he stated: "While flying cross-country, the planned fuel stop location (Danville, Va.) was IFR. With approximately one hour of fuel on-board, I turned west to...select an alternative fuel stop. After 25 minutes...I elected to find a field for precautionary landing..." The pilot further stated that after he located an 1,800 foot farm field, he established a final approach path, and the airplane struck power lines before touchdown. After landing, the pilot obtained auto fuel from the property owner, and directions to the nearest airport, Blacksburg, Virginia. The pilot continued by stating: "...I elected to make a downhill takeoff run. Using soft field...technique, the plane was airborne in ground effect. At this point the taper of the ground steepened and I was immediately out of ground effect. The stall horn beeped...The plane fell through the ground effect space and struck the ground..." The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's report stated that the airplane landed 11 miles east of the Blacksburg Airport due to fuel exhaustion. After the pilot obtained fuel from the property owner, he performed a "downhill takeoff in heavy grass with a tailwind." In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that the final destination of the cross country trip was Kissimmee, Florida, about 700 nautical miles south of the departure airport, Cumberland Regional (CBE), Cumberland, Maryland. There was no record of the pilot receiving a weather briefing or filing a flight plan. The pilot stated that weather was not a factor in the accident; however, he stated that the weather was not VFR at his first refueling stop, the Danville Regional Airport (DAN). Both CBE and DAN were non-towered airports. The direct route of flight to DAN was about 185 nautical miles south of CBE, and extended over the Lynchburg Regional/Preston Glenn Field (LYH), Lynchburg, Virginia. The Lynchburg Regional Airport had an operation control tower, and reported, at 1254, few clouds at 1,200 feet, with a visibility of 7 miles. About 50 miles due west of LYH was the Virginia Tech Airport (BCB), Blacksburg, Virginia, also a non-towered airport. The direct route between LYH and BCB passed about 5 miles south of the Roanoke Regional/Woodrum Field, Roanoke, Virginia. This airport also had an operational control tower and was about 10 miles east of the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4523U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4523U-1999-11-04), registration cancelled 1999-11-04, S/N 15060523 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150D - Registry model: [Cessna 150D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150d) (registry code 2071810) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15060523 - Airframe hours: 2719 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald J. Dainton - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1996 - Destination: BCB, BLACKSBURG, VA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 395 total, 126 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LYH, 50 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 19961228042429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961228042429A), Dec 28, 1996: Cessna 150D, Catawba Valley, VA, Substantial damage. Fuel stop IFR. Ran out. Landed farm field. Got mogas. Downhill takeoff,tall grass,downwind. Stalled.no weather brief ## Other investigations on N4523U (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 NYC65D0142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC65D0142), Mar 25, 1965: Cessna 150 (N4523U), New Paltz, NY, 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.