# NTSB CHI95FA001: Cessna 150G, N3654J, Lamberton, MN, October 2, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 1994, 19:00 local (Oct 2, 1994, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Lamberton, MN - Coordinates: 44.219039, -95.260055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2190&lon=-95.2601&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 4, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9713 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95FA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9713/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=9713 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95FA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. A factor in the accident was the pilot's ostentatious display by buzzing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - buzzing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ostentatious display, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM A GRAVEL ROAD NEXT TO HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW'S FARM. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE MADE ONE PASS NORTH TO SOUTH AND A SECOND PASS WEST TO EAST JUST SOUTH OF THE FARM HOUSE. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF A FEW HUNDRED FEET. AS THE PILOT PULLED UP SHARPLY, THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE DROPPED, AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN ROTATING TO THE RIGHT. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THE ENGINE NOISE DECREASED BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN DURING THE DESCENT. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A PLOWED FIELD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION. TOXICOLOGICAL TESTING REVEALED 0.153 UG/ML CHLORPHENIRAMINE (AN OVER-THE-COUNTER ANTIHISTAMINE) IN LIVER FLUID, 0.478 UG/ML IN SPLEEN FLUID. THERAPEUTIC LEVEL IS 0.016-0.070 UG/ML IN BLOOD SPECIMENS. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 1, 1994, about 1900 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N3654J, was destroyed while maneuvering near Lamberton, Minnesota. The solo private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated about 1857 on a farm road near the accident site with a planned destination of St. James, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed. According to witnesses, the pilot had been visiting with relatives, celebrating his sister's 25th wedding anniversary. He took off, as he had previously landed, from the gravel road next to his brother-in-law's farm. After takeoff, he made one pass north to south and a second pass west to east just south of the farm house. Witnesses stated the airplane was at an altitude of a few hundred feet. As the pilot pulled up sharply, the nose of the airplane dropped, and the airplane began rotating to the right. They reported the engine noise decreased but the engine continued to run during the descent. The airplane impacted the terrain in a plowed field. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The NTSB on-scene investigation began on October 2, 1994, at 0930. The wreckage was located in a field north of the Ervin Runk farm and east of the Donald Runk farm. A five by three foot crater, six inches deep was located two feet in front of the nose of the airplane. The left wing was separated from the main wreckage and was located 27 feet to the south, oriented perpendicular to the fuselage. The forward fuselage was crushed upward and aft to the aft door frames. The empennage, aft of the cabin area, was bent 90 degrees to the right. The right wing was crushed aft at a thirty degree angle from midspan out to the tip. One blade of the propeller was bent aft approximately 30 degrees at midspan. The tip of the other blade was bent slightly forward. Minor torsional bending was evident. Slight charring to surrounding vegetation was evident beneath the engine. Witnesses reported they had extinguished a small postimpact fire using a hand held fire extinguisher. The spark plugs were black and coated with carbon. The left magneto sparked when it was rotated by hand. The right magneto was partially melted and could not be functionally tested. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was discovered. Examination of engine and flight control system continuity revealed no anomalies. A fuel sample from the left wing tank revealed clean, clear, green colored fuel. The sample smelled similar to automobile fuel. Testing of the fuel with a field test kit revealed it contained no water and greater than five percent alcohol. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Autopsy of the pilot was conducted at the Immanuel-St. Joseph's Hospital, 1025 Marsh Street, P. O. Box 8673, Mankato, MN 56002- 2626. Toxicological testing was negative for all tests conducted except 0.153 (ug/ml, ug/g) Chlorpheniramine detected in liver fluid and 0.478 (ug/ml, ug/g) Chlorpheniramine detected in spleen fluid. According to a NTSB National Resource Specialist, the therapeutic level for Chlorpheniramine is .016 to .070 (ug/ml, ug/g) in blood specimens. Chlorpheniramine is listed in the Physicians' Desk Reference as an active ingredient in many nonprescription cold and allergy medications. Medications containing Chlorpheniramine warn "use caution when driving a motor vehicle or operating heavy machinery" ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Parties to the investigation were the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Cessna Aircraft Corporation, Wichita, Kansas. Following the on-scene portion of the investigation, the wreckage was released to Mr. Dewayne Malmgron, the manager of the St. James Airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3654J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3654J-1996-08-13), registration cancelled 1996-08-13, S/N 15064954 (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: 15064954 - Airframe hours: 3658 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Keith E. Wolle - Registered owner: Keith E. Wolle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Destination: D40, ST. JAMES, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 354 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RWF, 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 19941001032329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941001032329A), Oct 1, 1994: Cessna 150G, Redwood Falls, MN, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Stalled. Entered a spin too low for recovery. Aircraft annual expired. Cd pending on seat rails. ## Docket (14 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 18, 1995, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=9713. 2.4 MB in all. - Supplement A (item 1, .PDF, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20A-Master.PDF - Supplement B (item 2, .PDF, 507 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033116&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20B-Master.PDF - Supplement K (item 3, .PDF, 630 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033117&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20K-Master.PDF - Supplement N (item 4, .PDF, 276 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033118&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20N-Master.PDF - Map of Accident Area (item 5, .PDF, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033119&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map%20of%20Accident%20Area-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 6, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 7, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423424&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Over View of Wreckage Looking North. (item 8, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033122&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Over%20View%20of%20Wreckage%20Looking%20North.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Aft View of Wreckage. (item 9, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033123&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20Aft%20View%20of%20Wreckage.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Front View of Wreckage. (item 10, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033124&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20Front%20View%20of%20Wreckage.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Cabin Area. (item 11, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20%20Cabin%20Area.-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Propeller. (item 12, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033126&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20%20Propeller.-Master.PDF - Photo 6. Left Lift Strut Lower Attach Fitting. (item 13, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033127&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20%20Left%20Lift%20Strut%20Lower%20Attach%20Fitting.-Master.PDF - Photo 7. Left Wing Main Spar Attach Point. (item 14, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40033128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207.%20%20Left%20Wing%20Main%20Spar%20Attach%20Point.-Master.PDF 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.