The airplane was destroyed after collision with terrain and a post-crash fire at 1105 Eastern time; the private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The flights purpose was to search for a windsock that detached from its mount due to strong winds earlier in the week. A pilot-rated witness observed the accident flight from start to finish. After some maneuvering, he observed the airplane in “a very low, tight left downwind.” The airplane then entered a tight, steep, low-speed left bank the witness estimated was greater than 45 degrees. After overflying the runway centerline, the pilot pulled the nose over sharply and was in about a 45-degree bank when the left wing dropped and the aircraft dove to the ground.
September 2, 2007, Hazelton, Penn., Cessna 150J
The airplane was destroyed after collision with terrain and a post-crash fire at 1105 Eastern time; the private pilot was fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The flights purpose was to search for a windsock that detached from its mount due to strong winds earlier in the week. A pilot-rated witness observed the accident flight from start to finish. After some maneuvering, he observed the airplane in "a very low, tight left downwind." The airplane then entered a tight, steep, low-speed left bank the witness estimated was greater than 45 degrees. After overflying the runway centerline, the pilot pulled the nose over sharply and was in about a 45-degree bank when the left wing dropped and the aircraft dove to the ground.
Key Takeaways:
- A private pilot was fatally injured and their airplane destroyed in a post-crash fire while conducting a low-altitude search for a detached windsock.
- A witness observed the aircraft performing a very low, tight, and steep left bank at slow speed, which subsequently led to a wing drop and dive into the ground.
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