Cessna 150D N4228U

Summary

On 25 July 1997 at about 15:45 local time, a Cessna 150D registered N4228U was involved in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 July 1997 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Fort Collins Downtown (3V5)

Coordinates

40.5505, -105.0602

Aircraft

Cessna 150D

Registration

N4228U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Osage

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97FA280

2 people were seriously injured.

Inadequate preflight planning by loading the aircraft over the maximum certificated gross weight, failure to follow procedures and directives by using flaps for takeoff and failing to properly lean the engine for optimum power, and stalling the aircraft. Factors were: Poor judgement by the pilot in operating the aircraft without a current annual inspection, for forging his medical certificate, and failing to obtain and use the proper Owner's Manual for the aircraft. Also, factors were insufficient requirements for the Owner's Manual by the FAA and inadequate aircraft manual information by the manufacturer.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During initial climb following takeoff on a cross-country flight, the aircraft failed to attain a sustained climb and impacted in a field approximately 2 miles from the departure end of the runway. Weather conditions at the time were temperature 92 degrees F, wind calm, and the airport elevation was 4,699 feet msl. The aircraft had been modified by STC to a tailwheel configuration. The Owner's Manual in the aircraft was for the wrong year and model. The aircraft was 32 pounds over maximum gross weight. The pilot was using 10 degrees flaps for takeoff. There are no performance charts for the use of flaps for takeoff and in the narrative portion of the Owner's Manual. The manual recommends that flaps not be used for takeoff from high altitude airports on hot days. In addition, the aircraft was out of annual, the pilot had a forged medical certificate, some work on the aircraft had been performed by the pilot and signed off and he did not possess a mechanic license, and the signatures on the spark plugs revealed the aircraft engine was not leaned for optimum performance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.