Cessna 150L N16040

Summary

On 16 August 1997 at about 17:05 local time, a Cessna 150L registered N16040 was involved in an accident near Westfield, Massachusetts, 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

16 August 1997 at 17:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Westfield, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Barnes Muni (BAF)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 150L

Registration

N16040

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD97LA111

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation which fail to include a weight and balance check and his subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed with a passenger and full fuel. A witness observed the accident airplane takeoff and rotate to a 'very high pitch attitude.' The airplane's pitch lowered a little, followed by the left wing, and then the airplane descended and landed nose first in a cornfield next to the runway. The pilot stated that he had not completed weight and balance computations. Weight and balance calculations indicated that the airplane had been loaded above its maximum gross weight limit of 1,600 pounds by 156 pounds. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction with the airplane or the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.