Cessna 150 accident near Kenai, Alaska, February 1, 2003
On February 1, 2003 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N704JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenai, Alaska (Trading Bay Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed application of the airplane brakes resulting in an overrun during the landing roll, and subsequent collision with a snowbank. A contributing factor in the accident was icy runway conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 2003 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · Trading Bay Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N704JB · registry record · serial 15078638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot reported that he made a precautionary landing at a private airport on a 4,500 foot, gravel surfaced runway that was oriented north/south. He said he overflew the airport and saw another airplane parked on the north end of the runway. He said he decided to land toward the south, beyond the parked airplane. The pilot said a tailwind was blowing from the north about 6 knots. The pilot was familiar with the airport and knew the runway ran slightly uphill toward the south. He said that he did not think the downwind landing would be a problem, and touched down just beyond the half-way point on the runway and allowed the airplane to coast. As the airplane neared the end of the runway, he applied the airplane's brakes. The pilot said he then realized the runway surface was glazed with ice, and the airplane began to slide sideways. The left main landing gear collided with a snow berm at the south end of the runway, and the left wing struck the snow. The pilot indicated the accident could have been prevented by "attempt to use brakes immediately after touchdown (landing) to get a good idea of surface conditions."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,053 hours in all; 211 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 978 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,925 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 2002; 160 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kenai AK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: Kenai AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.