Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 150H near Ellenville, NY — 2022-08-07

Final reportERA22LA363
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Date
2022-08-07
Location
Ellenville, NY, USA
Airport
N89
Aircraft
CESSNA 150H
Registration
N50439
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

Both pilots’ decision to perform the takeoff near maximum gross weight with 10° of flaps, contrary to the owner’s manual procedure, which resulted in the airplane’s degraded climb performance approaching high terrain.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot-rated passenger, who was accompanied by a commercial pilot, was performing the takeoff at near-maximum gross weight after purchasing the airplane. The pilot-rated passenger took off with 10° of flaps for “extra lift to get us away from the ground.” Both pilots reported that there was high terrain near the airport. The airplane lifted off with about 1,000 ft of runway remaining, climbed to about 100 ft above the runway, and then would no longer climb. The commercial pilot took control of the airplane and looked for a place to land. The stall warning horn sounded, so he lowered the nose to maintain flying airspeed. He maneuvered around some power lines, raised the flaps, and the airplane crashed onto a roadway. It came to rest on an embankment adjacent to the road and was substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the wreckage, including a test run of the engine, revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or anomaly. The owner’s manual for the airplane stated that normal and obstacle clearance takeoffs should be performed with flaps up. Use of 10° flaps will shorten the takeoff roll; however, that advantage is lost in the climb to a 50-ft obstacle. The manual further notes that use of 10° flaps should only be used for takeoffs with minimum ground runs or soft/rough fields with no obstacles ahead.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot-rated passenger should not have taken off without a medical certificate.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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