Cessna 150 accident near South Lake Tahoe, CA
On July 5, 2009, a Cessna 150 (airplane) was involved in an accident near South Lake Tahoe, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 5, 2009
- Place
- South Lake Tahoe, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.888°N, 119.994°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090706X61840
Official records · WPR09FA326
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
History of Flight On July 5, 2009, about 1301 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150J, N51172, owned and operated by a private individual, experienced a loss of control during initial climb from the Lake Tahoe Airport, South Lake Tahoe, California. Seconds after lifting off from runway 18, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted terrain adjacent to the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was fatally injured. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident. According to a witness who was preparing to depart on runway 18, the accident airplane accelerated on the runway's centerline, became airborne, and climbed an estimated 100 feet above the runway. During this time the airplane was in an unusually high nose up pitch attitude. No evidence of smoke was observed trailing from the airplane. The accident airplane turned left and appeared to enter a left spin as it rapidly descended from his view. The witness also reported hearing the accident pilot broadcast a "mayday" call seconds prior to the crash. Two other witnesses were interviewed by responding El Dorado County Sheriff deputies. The witnesses were on the airport and their statements were consistent with the witness who was preparing to depart. One witness said the airplane had completed a 90 degree left turn before it entered a nose down turning descent to ground impact.
Probable cause
A partial loss of engine power due to a malfunctioning carburetor and the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to return to the runway. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude.
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Browse: California · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
