# NTSB WPR24LA021: Cessna 152, N6308Q, The Dalles, OR, October 20, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 19, 2023, 20:42 local (Oct 20, 2023, 03:42 UTC) - Place: The Dalles, OR · On hill near airport - Coordinates: 45.58, -121.15 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5800&lon=-121.1500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 193298 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193298/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193298 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA021 ## Probable cause The pilot’s encounter with severe turbulence at night which resulted in an extended downwind and collision with wires during the base turn. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane encountered “extreme” turbulence while on the approach to an intermediate stopover airport during a night cross-country flight. The pilot extended the downwind leg of the traffic pattern to stabilize the airplane, and during the base leg turn, the airplane struck a wire and subsequently impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The airport is located at an elevation of 246 ft mean sea level (msl) in a major river gorge. The northern ridge line above the airport is about 2,900 ft msl, and the southern ridge line is about 1,300 ft msl. The accident location is located about 2 miles south of the airport at an estimated evaluation of about 650 ft msl. High tension powerlines are positioned south of the airport along the southern ridge. According to the United States Navy Observatory, the official sunset was at 17:12 Pacific daylight time (PDT), the official end of civil twilight was at 17:42 PDT and the official moon set was at 20:02 PDT. The night cross-county training flight was part of the pilot’s training curriculum for her commercial, airplane single engine land certificate. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6308Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6308Q-2023-12-26), registration cancelled 2023-12-26, S/N 15285227, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285227 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 1840.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Hillsboro Aero Academy LLC - Registered owner: Hillsboro Aero Academy LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, October 3, 2023, 50.9 hours before - Departed: KRDM, Redmond, OR - Destination: KDLS, The Dalles, OR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DLS, Columbia Gorge Rgnl/The Dalles Muni, runway 31, 5,097 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 3, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 126 total, 71 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 310° at 12 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Turbulence: Moderate - Observed at: KDLS, 2 nm away - METAR: METAR KDLS 200353Z AUTO 31012G19KT 10SM CLR 19/11 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP143 T01890111= ## 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 20231019016489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231019016489A), Oct 19, 2023: Cessna 152, The Dalles, OR, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on a night cross country flight with a private pilot operating the aircraft. The aircraft departed redmond or (rdm) at 1940 and was approaching… ## Other investigations on N6308Q (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 WPR11CA473](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA473), Sep 29, 2011: Cessna 152 (N6308Q), Scappoose, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a bounced landing from which she was unable to recover. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193298. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16308489&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20N6308Qs_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of e-mail correspondence (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16315583&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20e-mail%20correspondence%20(Natalia%20%20Font%20Velez)-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16309009&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array_redacted-Rel.pdf 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.