Cessna 152 N757AS

Summary

On 21 February 2002 at about 19:30 local time, a Cessna 152 registered N757AS, operated by Billy McCoy Winkler, was involved in an accident near Blowing Rock, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

21 February 2002 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Blowing Rock, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Burlington-Alamance Regional (BUY)

Coordinates

36.1319, -81.5428

Aircraft

Cessna 152

Registration

N757AS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Billy McCoy Winkler

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Burlington → Burlington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL02LA050

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's in-flight decision to continue flight into an area with high winds that resulted in an in-flight encounter with a downdraft and subsequent loss of control of the airplane and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was maneuvering 50 to 100 feet above trees in mountainous terrain when a strong downdraft was encountered. The pilot attempted to escape the condition by turning, and the downdraft pushed the airplane into the treetops. A nearby weather station reported surface winds from 280 degrees magnetic at 24 knots gusting to 37 knots. The airplane was found approximately 100 yards below a 2,630-foot peak on the southeast side, about 3.5 miles east of a 3,800-foot ridge. Both wings displayed leading edge damage. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or defect was found, and the pilot reported no mechanical problems.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.