TURNER, ME, USA
N3269J
Cessna 150G
The pilot took off on a short flight to a nearby airport. He reported that as he approached the destination airport to land, the airspeed indicated about 45 to 50 mph with vibrations. As he flared to land, the airplane floated about 6 feet above the grass landing area with no stall characteristics. The airplane did not seem to slow sufficiently, so the pilot made a go-around. He indicated that he began a gradual climb, but kept the nose down to build airspeed. He started a right turn as he neared the departure end of the runway. The airplane cleared a building, but the wingtip struck a utility pole. The airplane then descended to the ground and came to rest on a street. An FAA examination of the airplane revealed the pitot tube cover was on the pitot tube. The pilot reported that this was the first time he had used the cover after it had been missing for several months.
On July 23, 1996, at 1748 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N3269J, struck power lines during an aborted landing at Twichell's Airport, Turner, Maine. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which departed from Hemond Airport, Minot, Maine, about 1740 edt, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: "...As I descended on the last of the final at approx. 200 feet above the runway I checked my airspeed, it indicated 45-50 mph with a vibrating needle. I dropped the nose to get more airspeed and leveled out and flared approx. 6 feet above the grass with no stall characteristics evident. I was unable to slow the plane down and used up a lot of grass. I decided that there was not enough room left for a safe landing and added full power. I began a slow climbout, keeping the nose down to build up airspeed. I cleared a two story house at the beginning of the airport road but apparently caught a wing tip on a telephone co. support pole on the far side of the house. The shock of impact broke the support cable and the plane pancaked onto the street approx. 125 feet from the pole" "When I returned several days late I found the pitot tube cover on the airplane. The pitot tube cover was lost for several months and recently recovered. This was probably the first time it was used since Feb. When I checked the airspeed on final I got a false reading and actually increased the airspeed from a proper 65 mph to a possible 75 mph or more....." Examination by the FAA found the pitot tube cover in place over the pitot tube. In a drawing attached to the NTSB Accident report, and during a telephone interview, the pilot indicated that he initiated a right turn prior to crossing the road at the departure end of the runway.
the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, by failing to remove the pitot tube cover, which resulted in false airspeed indications, and his failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance from a utility pole.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
