Cessna 150 accident near Denham Springs, Louisiana, June 18, 2001
On June 18, 2001 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150, registered N2898S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denham Springs, Louisiana (County Bend airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and decision making, which resulted in the airplane's performance being exceeded during the takeoff initial climb. A contributing factor was the rising terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2001 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Denham Springs, Louisiana · County Bend · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N2898S · no longer on the register · serial 15066798
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane departed the grass runway toward the east. At the departure end of the 3,100-foot long grass runway were trees and a residential area. A witness, who was located on the airport, stated that the airplane used at least 1,500 feet of the runway without the nose wheel coming off the ground. The witness mentioned that he thought the airplane would hit the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot stated that after takeoff, the airplane was unable to clear the trees. A witness, who was driving on a road near the residential area, observed the airplane impact the trees with the left wing and subsequently impact the road. The owner of the airport reported to the FAA inspector that he told the pilot not to takeoff to the east because the runway sloped up in that direction, there were trees located on the departure end, and there was a residential area that he did not want to disturb. The pilot elected to takeoff to the east because of the winds, which he reported to be from 060 degrees at 8-10 knots. The pilot also stated that he may have been "slightly over maximum gross weight during the takeoff."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 425 in this make and model; 410 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 13, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,943.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 2001; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Denham Springs TX at 10:30 pm
- Destination: 34F Philadelphia MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 3,100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 194°F (90°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.