# NTSB CHI91LA270: Cessna 150L, N16098, Watertown, SD, August 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 24, 1991, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Watertown, SD
- Coordinates: 44.909107, -97.159919 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9091&lon=-97.1599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15163
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA270
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15163/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA270

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

ATTEMPTED FORMATION FLYING WITH N4535E BY THE PILOT OF N16098.  FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLLISION WERE: NONPERFORMANCE OF PREFLIGHT PLANNING, AND FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES BY THE PILOT OF N16098.

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, cruise
  - formation flying - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Midair collision, cruise
  - formation flying - attempted, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - not performed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED WHEN THE PILOT OF AN OVERTAKING AIRPLANE N16908 ATTEMPTED TO JOIN AND FLY FORMATION WITH THE LEAD AIRPLANE N4535E. THE PILOT OF THE LEAD AIRPLANE WAS NOT AWARE OF THE OVERTAKING AIRPLANE. BOTH PILOTS PERFORMED EMERGENCY LANDINGS.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N16098](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16098-1995-05-20), registration cancelled 1995-05-20, S/N 15073475 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 150-73475
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ralph Hurlbert
- Departed: 8D7, CLARK, SD
- Destination: ATY, WATERTOWN, SD
- Airport: NONE, Unk

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N4535E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4535E), registered now, S/N 11CC-243, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 11CC
- Registry model: [Aeronca 11CC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11cc) (registry code 0191110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11CC-243
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1B 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Colman L. Wagner
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: 8D7, CLARK, SD
- Airport: NONE, Unk

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N16098; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 467 total, 467 in this make and model, 437 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N4535E; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,896 total, 22 in this make and model, 1,843 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Observed at: ATW, 8 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (2)

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

- [Accident 19910824036561A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910824036561A), Aug 24, 1991: Cessna 150L, Watertown, SD, Substantial damage. Flight of 2 pilots lost track of Aeronca N4535E and hit his empannege. Landed safe in open field.
- [Accident 19910824036562A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910824036562A), Aug 24, 1991: Bbavia 11CC, Watertown, SD, Substantial damage. Flight of 2. Empannege was struck by 150,N16098,that had lost sight of him. Float equipped Aeronca landed in lake.

## Other investigations on N16098 (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 MKC73FCJ33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73FCJ33), Apr 4, 1973: Cessna 150L (N16098), Fort Calhoun, NE, 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.

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