Cessna 150J N50824

Summary

On 6 July 2014 at about 20:43 local time, a Cessna 150J registered N50824, operated by Myers Stephen L, was involved in an accident near Topping, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 July 2014 at 20:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Topping, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Hummel Field (W75)

Coordinates

37.5899, -76.4604

Aircraft

Cessna 150J

Registration

N50824

Category

Airplane

Year built

1968

Engines

1

Operator

Myers Stephen L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Topping → Blacksburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14FA328

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed the airplane as it departed and reported that it appeared to have trouble climbing. The airplane then returned to the runway two times, but the pilot aborted the landing approach both times. During the climbout following the second aborted landing, the airplane banked to the left, descended in a nose-low attitude, and impacted the ground. Witness descriptions of the descent and observations of the wreckage and accident site were consistent with the pilot flying the airplane beyond its critical angle of attack, which resulted in the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall/spin. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Toxicology testing identified a prescription antidepressant and its metabolite, as well as a prescription drug used to treat hypertension in the pilot's liver and blood. These medications are unlikely to have contributed to the accident. Calculations of the airplane's weight and balance at the time of the accident showed that it was likely loaded just below or slightly in excess of its maximum gross weight.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.