# NTSB SEA94LA091: Cessna 150, N5537E, Woodland, WA, March 26, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 26, 1994, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Woodland, WA - Coordinates: 45.939857, -122.670845 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9399&lon=-122.6708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41902 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41902/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA091 ## Probable cause AIRSPEED WAS NOT MAINTAINED. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis AT THE CONCLUSION OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, IN A NEWLY PURCHASED AIRPLANE, THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, JUST BEFORE TOUCH DOWN, THE AIRPLANE DROPPED IN ALTITUDE. HE DOES NOT RECALL ANY FURTHER EVENTS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE STALLED AT 40 FEET AGL AND 50 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A 40 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, BOUNCED AND BROKE INTO THREE PIECES. ## Factual narrative On March 26, 1994, at 1515 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 150, N5537E, collided with the terrain 150 feet short of the Woodland State Airport, Woodland, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot was seriously injured. The flight had departed from Salem, Oregon, on March 26, 1994, at 1400, as a pleasure flight. It was reported that the pilot had just purchased the airplane from the previous owner on the day of the accident. The previous owner stated that the pilot picked the airplane up and departed from his private airstrip at his residence in Salem. This person stated that the pilot did not fly the airplane prior to the purchase, and that he only briefed the pilot on the airplane's systems. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he flew over the airport twice to look it over as it was his first time landing at this airstrip. The approach was made from the south and the pilot stated that "almost to touch down when I felt plane dropped under me." The pilot stated that the airspeed was at 65 mph indicated. The pilot then reduced the throttle and switched off the master switch. He does not recall any further events. Witnesses travelling on Interstate 5, that runs next to the airport, stated that the airplane was on final approach when first viewed. One witness, also a pilot, stated that the airplane was struggling to maintain altitude on approach and he noticed the the flaps were retracted. When the airplane was at 40 feet above ground level and approximately 50 yards short of the runway, the airplane stalled. The witness stated that the airplane collided with the terrain in a 40 degree nose down attitude, bounced and broke into three pieces. The witness was the first person at the accident site and stated that he turned off the master switch and positioned the fuel selector from the left position to the off position. The throttle was in the idle position and the mixture was full rich. The flap handle was in the retracted position. Federal Aviation Administration medical records indicate that the pilot's last medical certificate was dated April 23, 1981. The pilot reported a bienniel flight review in a Cessna 172 in September, 1993, however, the pilot could not provide verification of a sign-off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5537E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5537E-2013-01-31), registration cancelled 2013-01-31, S/N 17037, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17037 - Airframe hours: 3973 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Willard, Curtis H. - Registered owner: Willard, Curtis H. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1993, 25 hours before - Departed: SALEM, OR - Airport: WA71, Woodland State, runway 31, 1,965 × 25 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KLS, 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 19940326006649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940326006649A), Mar 26, 1994: Cessna 150, Woodland, WA, Substantial damage. Slow and wobbly on approach. Stalled. Dropped nose first to runway. Broke up. Had just purchased. No checkout. 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.