Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary SEA06CA001

Greenwater, WA, USA

Aircraft #1

N4175U

Cessna 150D

Analysis

The pilot said that soon after departure from runway 33, he inadvertently entered a fog "bank." He said that he attempted a climbing right turn to return to the clear air over the departure runway. He said that his airspeed dropped, and the aircraft stalled subsequently impacting trees and descended vertically to the mountain side. The airplane came to rest inverted bending and wrinkling both wings and the fuselage.

Factual Information

On October 1, 2005, at approximately 1900 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150D, N4175U, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near Greenwater, Washington. The private pilot (non-instrument rated), the sole occupant in the aircraft, received minor injuries. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot said that his destination was Thun Field (1S0), Puyallup, Washington; he had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that soon after departure from runway 33, he inadvertently entered a fog "bank." He said that he attempted a climbing right turn to return to the clear air over the departure runway. He said that his airspeed dropped, and the aircraft stalled subsequently impacting trees and descended vertically to the mountain side. The airplane came to rest inverted bending and wrinkling both wings and the fuselage.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadvertently flying into IMC weather conditions, his failure to maintain sufficient airspeed for flight, and his subsequent inadvertent stall/mush into trees. Contributing factors were the fog and the trees.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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