Cessna 150 N3515J accident near Woodstock, Georgia

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the initial climb in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent flight experience.

NTSB analysis

The private pilot and student pilot passenger were departing on a local personal flight from a 2,000-ft-long turf runway. The passenger reported that the airplane seemed to "struggle to climb" after clearing trees near the end of the runway. He heard the stall warning horn activate, and the airplane descended into trees and impacted the ground. Witnesses reported that the airplane "wobbled" as it climbed and that the right wing dropped before the airplane crashed into the woods.

Although the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed about 8 years before the accident, examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any evidence of a preaccident malfunction or anomaly. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed no current flight review or recent flight experience, and the pilot did not hold a current medical certificate. Reported wind conditions at a nearby airport indicated that a quartering tailwind may have been present about the time of the accident, with gusts up to 20 knots. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain airspeed during the initial climb in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, and loss of control.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA19LA037 for the full record.