Braithwaite Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Braithwaite, Louisiana 70040
Saturday, November 28, 1998 11:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot, who was receiving dual proficiency training, initiated the short field takeoff from the grass airstrip adjoining the Mississippi River. Then the flight instructor manipulated the flight controls and maneuvered the airplane for the departure climb. Once the airplane had passed over the north end of the runway, the instructor initiated a climbing right turn for a flight path approaching the tree line along the river. The private pilot recalled that the airplane 'stopped flying, started sinking, and suddenly rolled left into a steep spiral.' The flight instructor stated that the airplane 'suddenly rolled violently to the left into a spin.' The flight instructor performed the spin recovery procedure, and after slightly more than one complete revolution, the airplane was recovered on a westerly heading in a 'flattened attitude.' The airplane was too low and the tail struck the top of a levee. The flight instructor reported that turbulence was often encountered crossing the river and the adjacent tree line. He reported the winds were variable from the east at 8 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadvertent stall/spin. Factors were the terrain induced turbulence and the insufficient altitude for recovery.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/28/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City BRAITHWAITE
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70040
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BRAITHWAITE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LA75
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 6
Weather Observation Facility ID NBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 3
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 270
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 972
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 28 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N567G
NTSB Number FTW99LA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150H
Aircraft Series Identifier 150H
Aircraft Serial Number 15068281
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 8 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 5959
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID MORALES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2320 TORRES DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City SAINT BERNARD
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70085
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LA75
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NEW
Destination City NEW ORLEANS
Destination State LA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --