Cessna 150 N8520G

Summary

On 30 July 2021 at about 16:24 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N8520G, operated by Cameron LeClaire, was involved in an accident near Banning, California, 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

30 July 2021 at 16:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Banning, California, United States

Nearest airport

Banning (BNG)

Coordinates

33.9294, -116.8533

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N8520G

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Cameron LeClaire

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Redlands → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21FA298

2 people died.

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot and passenger completed several takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. They then departed to another airport, where they completed two takeoffs and landings. Shortly after turning onto the downwind leg of the traffic pattern before the third landing, at an altitude about 300 ft above ground level, the airplane entered a steep turn to the left and descended nose- and left-wing-low to ground contact. A postaccident fire ensued that thermally damaged the fuselage and wings. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The mother of the passenger reported that her son and the pilot were good friends. Her son had just purchased the airplane and was excited to learn how to fly. Review of flight track information indicated that the airplane’s altitude on the downwind leg of the traffic patterns throughout the flight was generally around 400 to 500 ft above ground level, and the airplane’s lateral distances from the runway during each pattern varied. Whether the pilot or passenger was controlling the airplane at the time of the accident could not be determined. Given the lack of mechanical anomalies, witness statements, and the orientation of the wreckage, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, loss of control, and impact with terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.