Cessna 150D accident near Balsam Grove, North Carolina, May 8, 2015
On May 8, 2015 at about 8:50 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 150D, registered N5981T, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Balsam Grove, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to attempt an off airport takeoff, and failure to maintain adequate clearance during the initial climb in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2015 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Balsam Grove, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150D, built 1964 · all 150Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5981T · registry record · serial 15060681
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot\owner of the airplane reported that he experienced a total loss of engine power and performed an uneventful forced landing to a road. The reason for the engine failure was later attributed to a blocked fuel vent tube. After landing, the pilot added additional fuel to the airplane, conducted a normal engine run-up, and noted about 1,500 feet of straight roadway available to takeoff from. He elected to depart from the road to the west, which was toward a valley. During the initial climb, the airplane encountered a sudden crosswind, and struck tree branches, which resulted in substantial damage to the left outboard wing and right inboard horizontal stabilizer. The pilot was able to continue the flight and landed at his destination without further incident. He also reported that he did not experience any malfunctions or failures during the accident takeoff that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The airplane had been operated for about 17 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 7 months prior. Winds reported at an airport that was located about 20 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, were from 140 degrees at 7 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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Collision during takeoff/land during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 342 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 5, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,855 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 2014; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-200 SERIES (piston); 4,855 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Hendersonville NC at 5:00 pm
- Destination: FGU Collegedale TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from AVL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 30, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Observations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 – Left Wing Damage (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 2 – Right Horizontal Stabilizer Damage (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.