CHI07LA010

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150H · Monroe City, IN · October 29, 2006

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 29, 2006, 13:45 local (19:45 UTC)
Place
Monroe City, IN
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N23175Cessna 150H
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 27, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20061029026639A
Case key
64796

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The student pilot not maintaining clearance from the tree during climb. Factors were the tree and the student pilot's lack of total experience.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with objectClimb
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)Factor
Lack of total experiencePilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during climb. The student pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The student pilot stated, "Decided to due a simulated force landing on ultra light field, got [too] low to climb out, hit top of trees." The passenger was not a rated pilot. Federal Aviation Regulation 61.89 General limitations, in part, stated, "(a) A student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft: (1) That is carrying a passenger" The student pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the flight.

Factual narrative

On October 29, 2006, about 1345 central standard time, a Cessna 150H, N23175, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during climb near Monroe City, Indiana. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The student pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The local flight originated from the O'Neal Airport, near Vincennes, Indiana, about 1300.

The student pilot's report, in part, stated:

Depart O'Neal Field at [approximately] 1:00 PM ... to due basic

instrument training for about 30 minutes, upon completing

instrument flight, decided to due a simulated force landing on ultra

light field, got to low to climb out, hit top of trees.

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the passenger was previously a certified flight instructor and his pilot certificates were canceled at the time of the accident. The passenger did not have a current medical certificate.

Federal Aviation Regulation 61.89 General limitations, in part, stated:

(a) A student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft:

(1) That is carrying a passenger;

...

The student pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the flight.

Aircraft

Registration
N23175
Reported as
Cessna 150H
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15068772
Airframe hours
2,467
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Wesley E. Jackson
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 1, 2006
Departed
OEA · Vincennes, IN
Airport
PVT

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
55
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
107 total · 98 in this make and model · 23 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 41 °F
Altimeter
29.95 inHg
Observed at
AJG, 20 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.

Other investigations on N23175 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.