Pilot Debrief

Cessna 150L near Watertown, SD — 2008-08-04

Final reportCHI08CA235
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Date
2008-08-04
Location
Watertown, SD, USA
Aircraft
Cessna 150L
Registration
N16235
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from terrain during cruise. Contributing to the accident was the night, the haze, and the tall vegetation.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the cross country night flight he began losing altitude while listening to the automated weather service broadcast for the destination airport. He did not notice the altitude loss. The pilot decided to go to an alternate airport, turned for the alternate, and descended during the turn. At that point he noticed the altitude loss, pulled back on the yoke, and impacted a cornfield. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the accident flight. The pilot's safety recommendation was "haze is deceptive."

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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