Pilot Debrief

CESSNA 150M near Beluga Lake, AK — 2011-06-27

Final reportANC11FA055
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Date
2011-06-27
Location
Beluga Lake, AK, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA 150M
Registration
N66286
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB narrative

The pilot departed from an off-airport site with one passenger. The passenger stated that the last thing that he remembered was the airplane being about 200 feet in the air. The wreckage came to rest at the base of a large berm adjacent to the takeoff site. An on-scene examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical deficiencies. Ground impact scars and the damage to the airplane were consistent with a high-energy impact, indicative of an aerodynamic stall. Given the lack of mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and engine, and the nature of the damage to the airplane, it is likely that the pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane at a low altitude and was unable to recover.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have avoided flying too close to the glacier due to weather uncertainty.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents6

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