# NTSB CHI88FA144: Cessna 150G, N4744X, Ft Wayne, IN, June 28, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 1988, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Ft Wayne, IN - Coordinates: 41.150238, -85.129516 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1502&lon=-85.1295&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious; on the ground: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 13947 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88FA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13947/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA144 ## Probable cause INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN DUE TO THE FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, AND FAILURE TO AVOID THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A THUNDERSTORM. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - touch-and-go - performed - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - raising of flaps - not performed, dual student (contributing factor) - inattentive, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - weather condition - thunderstorm,outflow (contributing factor) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - airspeed indicator - misread, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) - object - vehicle - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - residential area - On ground/water collision with object, other - object - residence ## Analysis THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & STUDENT BGN PRACTICING TOUCH-&-GO (T&G) LNDGS. AT 1ST, RWY 31 WAS IN USE. AFTER THE 1ST T&G, THE CFI TOLD THE STUDENT TO CHG TO RWY 5 FOR MORE FAVORABLE WIND CONDS. AT ABT THAT TIME, A COLD FNT WAS MVG THRU THE AREA, A TSTM WAS ABT 5 MI NW OF THE ARPT, THE WX WAS GETTING WINDY & THE CFI NOTED LGT RAIN ON THE WINDSHIELD. DRG THE CLIMB AFTER THE 2ND T&G, THE CFI NOTED THE ACFT HAD STOPPED CLIMBING AT ABT 200' AGL & TOOK CTL OF THE ACFT. LATER, HE SAID THE AIRSPEED WAS ABT 60 TO 65 KTS (BUT THE AIRSPEED INDCR WAS CALIBRATED IN MPH). CONCERNED ABT PWR LINES AHD, HE TURNEDTHE ACFT. HE THEN NOTICED IT WAS DSCNDG RAPIDLY & THE SPEED WAS DWN TO '55 OR MAYBE EVEN 50, WITHOUT REALLY CHANGING THEPITCH ANGLE.' THE ACFT THEN BANKED LEFT & ENTERED A NOSE DWN ATTITUDE. IT CRASHED INTO TREES, 2 VEHICLES & THE GND, THENSLID INTO A MOBILE HOME. CHILD NR MOBILE HOME WAS FATALLY INJURED. CFI THOUGHT FLAPS WERE RETRACTED FOR TKOF, BUT THEY WERE FND EXTDD 15 DEG. CANNABINOIDS FND IN PLT'S URINE, BUT NONE FND IN HIS BLOOD; URINE/PENTOBARBITAL LVL, 0.40 MG/DL. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4744X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4744X-1989-04-20), registration cancelled 1989-04-20, S/N 15064794 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150G - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064794 - Airframe hours: 5747 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: F.T Wayne Air Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 1988, 60 hours before - Departed: FWA, FT WAYNE, IN - Airport: SMD, Smith Field, runway 5, 3,110 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 635 total, 400 in this make and model, 550 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 12 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FWA, 12 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 19880628023929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880628023929A), Jun 28, 1988: Cessna 150G, Fort Wayne, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Took off into approaching frontal weather stalled avoiding wires. Hit trees and child on impact. Positive for drugs ## Other investigations on N4744X (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 MIA68F0300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA68F0300), Oct 25, 1967: Cessna 150G (N4744X), W Hollywood, FL, 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.