Cessna 150L N51361

Summary

On 20 July 1991 at about 21:00 local time, a Cessna 150L registered N51361, operated by Morris, James M, was involved in an accident near Belhaven, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 July 1991 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Belhaven, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Riverside (O5W)

Coordinates

35.5407, -76.6197

Aircraft

Cessna 150L

Registration

N51361

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Morris, James M

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Elizabeth City → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL91LA136

2 people were seriously injured.

THE POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE TAIL WIND, MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, AND MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TREES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A GO AROUND FOLLOWING A LOW APPROACH TO THE SHORT, SOD FIELD. HE INITIALLY STATED THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND LATER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING AFTER ENTERING THE DOWNWIND LEG. THE TEMPERATURE IN THE AREA AT THE TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES. THE PILOT MADE THE APPROACH TO THE NORTH WITH AN APPROXIMATE 10-KNOT TAIL WIND. A WITNESS LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST END OF THE RUNWAY STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AS IT PASSED HER POSITION. THE TREES ON THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY ARE APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET TALL. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.