Cessna 150F accident near Brigham City, Utah, November 1, 1997
On November 1, 1997 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N7934F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brigham City, Utah. 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
failure of the pilot to maintain lateral (or vertical) clearance from a tree, during takeoff. Related factors were: the tree, and the pilot's improper use of flaps.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 1997 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Brigham City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N7934F · registry record · serial 150-64034
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to take off from an off-airport field and admitted he 'allowed impatience. . .to cloud (his) judgment.' He monitored the local AWOS (Automatic Weather Observation Station) broadcast and determined the wind to be from 315 degrees at 8 knots. The proposed takeoff direction was aligned with the wind. The temperature was 55 degrees F. The pilot determined there was 30 percent more field available than that required for a short-field takeoff. The takeoff ground roll was about 300 feet using 20 degrees of flaps. After liftoff, the right wing struck a tree, and the pilot decided to make an immediate landing. During the landing, the airplane struck a fence that surrounded the field. The Cessna 150F Pilot's Operating Handbook limited flaps to 10 degrees for short-field takeoffs. The investigation also revealed the pilot's third class medical certificate had expired, and he had not accomplished a recent biennial flight review.
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: 235 hours in all; 118 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 147 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,468 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1997; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:30 am
- Destination: BMC UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 315° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.