Cessna 150D N5981T

Summary

On 8 May 2015 at about 20:50 local time, a Cessna 150D registered N5981T was involved in an accident near Balsam Grove, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 May 2015 at 20:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Balsam Grove, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.2253, -82.8642

Aircraft

Cessna 150D

Registration

N5981T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1964

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hendersonville → Collegedale

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15CA209

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to attempt an off airport takeoff, and failure to maintain adequate clearance during the initial climb in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot\owner of the airplane reported that he experienced a total loss of engine power and performed an uneventful forced landing to a road. The reason for the engine failure was later attributed to a blocked fuel vent tube. After landing, the pilot added additional fuel to the airplane, conducted a normal engine run-up, and noted about 1,500 feet of straight roadway available to takeoff from. He elected to depart from the road to the west, which was toward a valley. During the initial climb, the airplane encountered a sudden crosswind, and struck tree branches, which resulted in substantial damage to the left outboard wing and right inboard horizontal stabilizer. The pilot was able to continue the flight and landed at his destination without further incident. He also reported that he did not experience any malfunctions or failures during the accident takeoff that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The airplane had been operated for about 17 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 7 months prior. Winds reported at an airport that was located about 20 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, were from 140 degrees at 7 knots. .

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.