- Date
- June 25, 1995, 08:10 local (15:10 UTC)
- Place
- Meachem, OR
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N66727Cessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 8, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950625049259A
- Case key
- 42176
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain clearance from the surrounding terrain. A factor was the mountainous/hilly terrain condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported encountering a downdraft during a course reversal while overflying mountainous/hilly terrain. This was followed by a loss of airspeed. As the aircraft reached tree top level the pilot applied full power and 'banked sharply to the left. The right [SIC] wingtip hit the ground and the plane cart-wheeled, while sliding sideways into the trees.'
Factual narrative
On June 25, 1995, approximately 0810 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N66727, being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with trees/terrain while turning to reverse course over mountainous/hilly terrain approximately 5 nautical miles east of Meachem, Oregon. The pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Pendleton, Oregon, approximately 0740.
The pilot reported that while returning to Pendleton "over the gorge near Meachem Creek" he experienced a "downdraft and applied more power to keep from losing altitude." He reported that his airspeed decayed to less than 75 mph and he "eased the nose forward and applied more power (not full throttle)."
He reported that "By this time (he) had lost considerable altitude and was barely above tree top level." To avoid hitting the trees he "pushed the throttle in all the way, and banked sharply to the left. The right [sic] wingtip hit the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled, while sliding sideways into the trees."
Winds at the Meachem reporting station were less than 5 knots throughout the morning of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66727
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15076236
- Airframe hours
- 4,191
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Hossain, Syed, M.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 15, 1995 · 29 hours before
- Departed
- PDT · Pendleton, OR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 209 total · 141 in this make and model · 158 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 3 knots
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MEH, 4 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.
Other investigations on N66727 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.