- Date
- July 23, 1996, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Stehekin, WA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N49794Cessna 152
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 28, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960723019569A
- Case key
- 42425
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's improper planning/decision, and his failure to ensure that the airplane would remain clear of trees during the takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were: high density altitude, and the proximity of trees to the runway.
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
While departing from a dirt runway in mountainous terrain, the airplane hit trees at the departure end of the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane seemed to have good speed on the takeoff roll; however, by the time he was over the trees at the end of the runway, the stall warning buzzer was sounding. The pilot said he could not get the airplane to clear the trees. The airport elevation was 1230 feet msl. Weather at the time was reported by the pilot to be 85 degrees with a pressure reading of 30.00. Under these conditions, the density altitude was about 3080 ft.
Factual narrative
On July 23, 1996, approximately 1415 Pacific Daylight time, a Cessna 152, N49794, operated by Apple Valley Air in Omak, WA, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees near Stehekin State Airport near Stehekin, WA. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The 14 CFR 91 personal flight was on takeoff from Stehekin to Omak, Washington when the aircraft hit trees.
During a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that he seemed to have good speed on the takeoff roll. However, by the time he was over the trees at the end of the runway, he said that the stall warning buzzer was sounding and he could not clear the trees. In the pilot's accident report he stated that "Power stall on takeoff, hit tops of trees at 40 knots, flash engine fire immediately, plane then fell approx 30ft."
The Stehekin State Airport is at 1230 feet MSL. Weather at the time was reported by the pilot to be 85 degrees with a pressure reading of 30.00. Under these conditions the density altitude was about 3080 ft. The operator estimated the fuel on board at takeoff was about 19 to 21 gallons.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N49794
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15281319
- Airframe hours
- 3,593
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sandefur, Bobby G.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 4, 1995 · 86 hours before
- Destination
- OMK · Omak, WA
- Airport
- 6S9 · Stehekin State, runway 32, 2,700 × 60 ft, dirt
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
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 110 total · 30 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.