# NTSB ATL90LA049: Cessna 150L, N7950F, Talladega, AL, January 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 8, 1990, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Talladega, AL
- Coordinates: 33.429412, -86.090667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4294&lon=-86.0907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8198
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90LA049
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8198/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90LA049

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT IMC CONDITIONS WITH NO INSTRUMENT RATING, CLEARANCE OR EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - clouds
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, cruise - normal
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE, NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT, FLYING THE LEAD AIRPLANE IN A FLIGHT OF THREE, FLEW INTO A CLOUD IN AN AREA OF RISING TERRAIN AND CRASHED. THE PILOTS OF THE OTHER TWO AIRPLANES EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN AND LANDED SAFELY AT A NEARBY AIRPORT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7950F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7950F-1990-10-18), registration cancelled 1990-10-18, S/N A1500453 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna A150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a150l) (registry code 2071828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1500453
- Airframe hours: 4469
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frank G. Fisher
- Registered owner: Fisher, Frank G
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1989, 82 hours before
- Departed: THA, TULLAHOMA, TN
- Destination: CSG, COLUMBUS, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 2,800 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ANB, 27 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900108001019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900108001019A), Jan 8, 1990: Cessna 150L, Talladega, AL, Destroyed. Continued flight into clouds and struck side of mountain. A flight of three others turned back and landed safely.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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