MELOZZI HOT SPS, AK, USA
N3947U
CESSNA 150
THE PILOT WALKED THE AIRSTRIP AND MARKED A BUSH 800 FEET DOWN THE 1000 FOOT LONG AIRSTRIP. HE DID NOT USE ANY FLAPS AND STATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE EAST AT 10 KNOTS. HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF TO THE WEST. AT 50 KNOTS HE RAISED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE AND LIFTED OFF. A 'VIOLENT' CROSSWIND STRUCK THE AIRPLANE AND IT SETTLED BACK AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE NO FLAPS, LEVEL ATTITUDE STALL SPEED IS 55 KNOTS.
On July 23, 1994, at approximately 1330 Alaska daylight time, a wheeled equipped Cessna 150 airplane, N3947U, entered a stall/mush after a short field takeoff attempt and collided with the terrain. The accident occurred at Melozzi Hot Springs airstrip, approximately 60 miles west of Tanana, Alaska. The private pilot and a passenger were on a VFR flight plan, for personal reasons, under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The pilot and passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damages. According to the pilot, he landed at Melozzi Hot Springs airstrip at approximately 1200 hours. He planned to depart at 1330 hours. Prior to attempting the take off, he walked the length of the airstrip and marked a bush at 800 feet down the 1000 foot long airstrip. He stated that this was the point at which he intended to "rotate" the nose of the airplane. After walking the airstrip he attempted to take off by taxiing to the end of the airstrip and applying full power while holding the airplane's brakes. According to Doug Herlihy, the NTSB Investigator who interviewed the pilot, the pilot did not have any flaps extended for the "short field" take off attempt. Mr. Herlihy indicates that the pilot originally stated the wind was from the west at 8 knots. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, completed and signed by the pilot, he indicates the wind was from the East at 10 knots and the gusts were unknown. According to the pilot, he raised the nose of the airplane at 50 knots and after the airplane lifted off the airstrip it was hit by a "violent" crosswind. The airplane "lurched" to the right and settled back impacting the ground. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot had a total flight time of 205 hours, with 2 hours flown in the previous 24 hours. He did not indicate how much flight time he had in the Cessna 150 airplane. According to the Cessna 150 operators manual, normal and obstacle clearance take-offs are performed with flaps up. The use of 10 degrees of flaps will shorten the ground run approximately 10 percent, but this advantage is lost in the climb to a 50 foot obstacle. The manual further states the following: "Take-offs into strong crosswinds normally are performed with the minimum flap setting necessary for the field length, to minimize the drift angle immediately after take-off. The airplane is accelerated to a speed slightly higher than normal, then pulled off abruptly to prevent possible settling back to the runway while drifting...." The Cessna 150 operator's manual shows that the stall speed for a wings level attitude, at the gross weight, is 55 knots. The Operator's manual shows a take-off distance, ground run, at gross weight, sea level pressure and 59 degrees fahrenheit temperature, with no headwind, as 735 feet. The pilot indicates on the NTSB 6120.1/2 that the accident occurred at 2130 Alaska daylight time. However, in his narrative he shows that he attempted to depart at 1330 hours. The accident time of 1330 hours was used in this report. This accident was investigated by Mr. Douglas Herlihy and completed by Mr. George Kobelnyk.
THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT OFF BELOW THE STALL SPEED OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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