# NTSB BFO96LA029: Cessna 150K, N5900G, Seville, OH, December 4, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 4, 1995, 11:58 local (16:58 UTC) - Place: Seville, OH - Coordinates: 41.019912, -81.860229 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0199&lon=-81.8602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 1, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9120 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9120/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA029 ## Probable cause pilot suicide (intentional in-flight collision with terrain). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - suicide, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis Witnesses saw an airplane flying erratically in the vicinity of the accident site. After about 8 minutes, it impacted terrain in a steep nose down attitude. During an investigation, no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane was found. The pilot was reported to have had marital problems. On 12/3/95, police intervened in a family problem, and the pilot's wife went to her parent's home. On 12/4/95 (morning of the accident), the pilot left a message for his wife on a telephone answering machine, indicating a desire '...to see my son...one more time...' and to say goodbye. Also, the pilot's sister and wife stated that he had talked about suicide on many occasions. Before the flight, the pilot had the titles to the family vehicles notarized, signed them, and left the papers for his wife. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 4, 1995, at 1158 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150K, N5900G, impacted the terrain south of Seville, Ohio. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 and originated from Wadsworth Weltzien Skypark, in Wadsworth, Ohio, at approximately 1125. Witnesses at the airport stated that everything seemed routine when the pilot rented the airplane and took off, at about 1125. At about 1150, witnesses observed an airplane flying erratically in the vicinity of the crash. They stated the airplane was flying at unusual bank angles. The airplane impacted terrain in a steep nose down attitude, at about 1158. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot (airplane) certificate, with single engine land privileges. The pilot's logbook records indicate that he had approximately 164 hours total flight time, and had satisfactorily completed a Biennial Flight Review on July 5, 1994. The pilot also held a Third Class Medical Certificate, with no restrictions/limitations, dated April 18, 1994. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane had a current registration and airworthiness certificate in the normal category. Postaccident examination of the airplane's maintenance logbooks revealed no evidence of anomaly. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane wreckage was located in an open alfalfa field, with no immediate obstacles. Postaccident examination revealed that the main wreckage was in a single pile, and there were no ground scars leading to the wreckage. Postaccident investigation revealed that all flight controls, flaps, ailerons, rudder, and trim tab were located with the main wreckage. Flight control cables were tracked and continuity confirmed, from their respective bellcranks to cockpit/center section of the wreckage. The damage to the cockpit/center section prevented continuity confirmation to the control column and rudder pedals. Cockpit instrument panel and powerplant control documentation was not possible due to impact damage. Postaccident examination of the engine, airframe, and systems revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION A Medical Examination was done on December 5, 1995 by Dr. Grabenstetter, of Medina County Coroner's Office in Valley City, OH. Toxicological tests did not detect alcohol, drugs, or carbon monoxide. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The pilot's wife stated that she and the pilot had been experiencing marital difficulties. She stated that on December 3, she and her husband had a violent argument, and the local authorities were called to their residence to intervene. The pilot's wife and son were transported to her parent's home, where they remained overnight. The pilot's wife reported that on the morning of the accident, the pilot called her at her parent's house at about 0600, and again at 0815. She reported that he was upset, and "...kept calling back so I took the phone off the hook. He...showed up at my parents home...I did not open the door because I was afraid for my son and [me]." The pilot's wife reported that when she wouldn't answer the door, the pilot left, then telephoned her parent's home again. The pilot's wife stated that she picked up the phone after the pilot started to leave a message on the answering machine. The Ohio State Police transcribed the telephone answering machine recording of the conversation. The transcript revealed that the pilot stated "...pick up the phone and talk to me...Why that always happens I don't know, I've got a temper, but when you...degrade me...make me feel so insignificant...I want to see my son...At least let me see him one more time, please." The pilot's wife said "...you have the choice whether you want to see him or not, ok." According to the transcript, the pilot stated "Well, thanks for not letting me say goodbye to my son and my dog. I hope you [can] live with that...You've destroyed everything I've ever worked for. Now you didn't even let me say goodbye to my son." According to the pilot's family, after this phone call, the pilot drove to a notary where he had the titles to the family's three vehicles notarized, signed them, and left them on a table for the wife. When the local authorities notified the pilot's wife of her husband's death, she stated that she felt he had committed suicide. The pilot's sister and wife indicated that the pilot had an abusive childhood, and was prone to violence and displays of temper. They stated that he had talked about suicide on many occasions. The pilot's wife reported that a close friend of the pilot's was killed in an airplane crash, and the pilot stated that was how he wanted to go, "...crash and burn and no skid marks." The aircraft wreckage was released to the registered owner on December 5, 1995. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5900G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5900G-1997-03-24), registration cancelled 1997-03-24, S/N 15071400 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150K - Registry model: [Cessna 150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (registry code 2071822) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071400 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel E. Weltzien - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 25, 1995 - Departed: 15G, WELTZIEN SKYPAR, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 164 total, 92 in this make and model, 112 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CAK, 18 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 19951204039529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951204039529A), Dec 4, 1995: Cessna 150K, Seville, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Wreckage found. Aircraft destroyed pilot fatal. No witnesses. Under investigation. (-23) on December 04, 1995, at approximately 1155 EST, Mr. David lee burley,… ## Other investigations on N5900G (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI71DGG12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71DGG12), Sep 14, 1970: Cessna 150K (N5900G), Columbus, OH, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.