Cessna 150D N4296U

Summary

On 10 April 2010 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna 150D registered N4296U was involved in an accident near Galena, Idaho, 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

10 April 2010 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Galena, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Smiley Creek (U87)

Coordinates

43.9122, -114.7961

Aircraft

Cessna 150D

Registration

N4296U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Garden Valley → Galena

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10CA201

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's encounter with soft, snow-covered terrain while executing a precautionary landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he intended to fly his airplane on a cross-country flight over high mountainous terrain. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to 9,500 feet mean sea level (msl) in order to fly over mountains. He subsequently descended to 8,500 feet msl, and then he attempted to climb back to 9,500 feet to clear additional mountains. This second climbing effort diminished his fuel reserve, so the pilot opted to divert to a 7,160-foot msl uncontrolled airport short of his destination. While flying over the airport to evaluate its runway's condition, the pilot noted that the runway was covered with snow. The pilot opined that because of the airplane's low fuel state, it was prudent for him to land. The pilot made a soft-field landing on the runway. During rollout, the airplane's wheels penetrated the snow-covered surface, the airplane nosed over, and both wings and the empennage broke.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.