Cessna 150F accident near Harrisonburg, Virginia, March 5, 2004
On March 5, 2004 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna 150F, registered N3038X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harrisonburg, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to attempt a landing with an excessive tailwind, which resulted in an inadvertent stall while attempting to climb during a go-around. A factor related to the accident was the tailwind conditions and the rising terrain beyond the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2004 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Harrisonburg, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3038X · no longer on the register · serial 15064438
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot conducted an approach to runway 30, and encountered a quartering tailwind, which resulted in a loss of airspeed. The pilot initiated a go-around; however, the airplane stalled at a low altitude, which he could not recover from. The airplane descended to the ground, and came to rest inverted. Runway 30 was a 1,700-foot long grass airstrip, and sloped upwards to a crest at the midpoint. Rising terrain and trees were located prior to and beyond the airstrip. The airstrip was equipped with a windsock. The pilot reported after the accident that the winds were from the south at 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The pilot did not report encountering any abnormalities with the engine or airframe during the flight.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 278 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: August 5, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W45 Luray VA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Harrisonburg VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 1,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 18 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from CHO, 33 miles away
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.