Cessna 150 accident near Melozzi Hot Sps, Alaska, July 23, 1994
On July 23, 1994 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N3947U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Melozzi Hot Sps, Alaska (Melozi Hot Springs 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 PREMATURE LIFT OFF BELOW THE STALL SPEED OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1994 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Melozzi Hot Sps, Alaska · Melozi Hot Springs · 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
- N3947U · no longer on the register · serial 15061347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WALKED THE AIRSTRIP AND MARKED A BUSH 800 FEET DOWN THE 1000 FOOT LONG AIRSTRIP. HE DID NOT USE ANY FLAPS AND STATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE EAST AT 10 KNOTS. HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF TO THE WEST. AT 50 KNOTS HE RAISED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE AND LIFTED OFF. A 'VIOLENT' CROSSWIND STRUCK THE AIRPLANE AND IT SETTLED BACK AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE NO FLAPS, LEVEL ATTITUDE STALL SPEED IS 55 KNOTS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 205 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,911 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1994; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 1,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.