Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Blowing Rock, North Carolina 28605
Thursday, February 21, 2002 14:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was maneuvering 50 to 100 feet above trees in mountainous terrain when a strong downdraft was encountered. The pilot attempted to escape the condition by turning, and the downdraft pushed the airplane into the treetops. A nearby weather station reported surface winds from 280 degrees magnetic at 24 knots gusting to 37 knots. The airplane was found approximately 100 yards below a 2,630-foot peak on the southeast side, about 3.5 miles east of a 3,800-foot ridge. Both wings displayed leading edge damage. No evidence of mechanical malfunction or defect was found, and the pilot reported no mechanical problems.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's in-flight decision to continue flight into an area with high winds that resulted in an in-flight encounter with a downdraft and subsequent loss of control of the airplane and collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/21/2002
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Blowing Rock
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28605
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 360755N
Event Location Longitude 0813234W
Event Location Airport Burlington-Alamance Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BUY
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 116
Degrees magnetic from airport 279
Airport Elevation 594
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1443 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID KTNB
Elevation of weather observation facility 3200
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 75
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 24
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 37
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) 3442
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KTNB 211943Z AUTO 28024G37KT 10SM SCT055 SCT
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13050
NTSB Notification Source FAA Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 21 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1950
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2003 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Charlotte FSDO - 33

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N757AS
NTSB Number ATL02LA050
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15279591
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 Dec 20 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 59.9
Airframe Hours 4400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name H & H Propeller Service, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3449 South Aviation Drive
Aircraft Owner City Burlington
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27215
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Billy McCoy Winkler
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 176 Herronwood Drive
Operator City Graham
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 27253
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BUY
Departure City Burlington
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 100
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code BUY
Destination City Burlington
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 23 2002 9:08AM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --