Cessna 150 N4024J

Summary

On 6 October 1995 at about 22:00 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N4024J, operated by Dick L. Randall, was involved in an accident near Hoonah, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 October 1995 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hoonah, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Hoonah (HNH)

Coordinates

58.1105, -135.3996

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N4024J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dick L. Randall

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Juneau

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96LA001

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation. Factors relating to the accident were: improper weight and balance configuration, and unsuitable terrain in the emergency landing area.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The gravel runway was 3000 feet in length and surrounded by higher terrain in all quadrants. The wind was reported from 360 degrees at 3 knots. During the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane would not climb quickly enough to avoid trees on rising terrain. The pilot turned toward a flat spot for an emergency landing. Subsequenlty, the airplane struck an area of cleared timber and received damage to the landing gear, main cabin fuselage, and wings. The pilot reported to law enforcement officers that he thought the airplane was overloaded. The flaps were found extended about 20 degrees. Calculation of the weight and balance indicated that the airplane had been loaded above its maximum gross weight limit of 1600 pounds, and the center of gravity was aft of the allowable limit. Examination of weight and balance data revealed the empty weight of the airplane had been miscalculated by the operator; the empty weight was listed as 38 pounds below the actual empty weight. The pilot said he used the weight and balance data contained in the airplane records and figured the accident flight was 2.9 pounds below the maximum gross weight limit. The actual gross weight, calculated from weight figures provided by the pilot, was 35.1 pounds over the maximum gross weight limit.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.