Event SEA00LA071

Factual narrative

On April 13, 2000, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N50039, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14CFR91 personal/pleasure flight, was substantially damaged during the landing roll-out at Lopez Island Airport (S31), Lopez Island, Washington. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was uninjured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The flight originated from Lopez Island approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident, with a planned destination of Anacortes, Washington. There was no fire and no report of ELT activation. The pilot stated that shortly after take off from runway 34, during the ascent, he inadvertently encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) approximately 300 feet above ground level (AGL), and initiated a 270 degree turn back to the airport. The pilot reacquired the airport and turned another 90 degrees, aligning with runway 16 at 100 feet AGL and approximately mid-field. The aircraft touched down approximately 2,700 feet down the 2,900 foot wet runway at 80 MPH. The aircraft traveled off the departure end of the runway and collided with a game fence. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. At 1014 PDT, the hourly weather observation for Friday Harbor (FHR), 5 miles northwest of the accident site, was winds from 60 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 2 statute miles with light rain and mist; broken clouds at 300 feet and 3,200 feet, overcast clouds at 4,800 feet; temperature 9 degrees C; dew point temperature 9 degrees C; altimeter setting 29.82 inches hg. No mechanical malfunctions were reported with the aircraft at the time of the accident. Shortly after departure, during the ascent, the pilot inadvertently entered IMC conditions. The pilot initiated a turn back to the airport, reacquired the runway at 100 feet above ground level (agl) and approximately mid-field. The aircraft touched down 2,700 feet down the 2,900 foot wet runway at 80 MPH. The aircraft traveled off the end of the runway and collided with a fence. No mechanical malfunctions were reported with the aircraft at the time of the accident. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12