Cessna 150J N60867

Summary

On 2 September 2007 at about 15:00 local time, a Cessna 150J registered N60867, operated by Martin A. Ulshafer Sr., was involved in an accident near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 September 2007 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hazleton, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Hazleton Minicipal (KHZL)

Coordinates

40.9853, -75.9903

Aircraft

Cessna 150J

Registration

N60867

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Martin A. Ulshafer Sr.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hazelton → Hazelton

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07LA210

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to search the airport for a windsock that detached from its mount due to strong winds earlier in the week. A law enforcement officer who held a commercial pilot certificate was also familiar with the purpose of the flight, and said he watched the accident flight from takeoff, to ground contact. The airplane departed to the west, climbed to 200 feet, and then maneuvered back and forth over the airport "low and slow" before it entered a tight, steep, low-speed left bank that the witness estimated was greater than 45 degrees. While in the turn, the left wing dropped, and the aircraft dove to the ground. When asked about the engine noise, the witness said the sound was smooth and continuous with no interruption to ground contact. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical deficiency.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.