# NTSB DEN91FA034: Cessna 150H, N7248S, Mancos, CO, January 20, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 19, 1991, 20:30 local (Jan 20, 1991, 03:30 UTC)
- Place: Mancos, CO
- Coordinates: 37.340087, -108.290016 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3401&lon=-108.2900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18010
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91FA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18010/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91FA034

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES BY CONTINUING THE FLIGHT AT NIGHT AND SUBSEQUENTLY ENCOUNTERING ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS, THE STUDENT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY A PREPLANNED CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO PAGE, ARIZONA, AND RETURN TO DURANGO, COLORADO, BEFORE SUNSET.  HE BECAME LOST AND LANDED AT CORTEZ, COLORADO.  INSTEAD OF TERMINATING THE FLIGHT, HE ELECTED TO TAKEOFF AT NIGHT AND CONTINUE.  SUBSEQUENTLY, HE FLEW INTO SNOW SHOWERS, AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ON THE WEST SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN, WHILE ON A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7248S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7248S-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 15067948, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H
- Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15067948
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Mark A. Smithback
- Registered owner: Mark A. Smithback
- Departed: CEZ, CORTEZ, CO
- Destination: 5COO, DURANGO, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 43 total, 42 in this make and model, 18 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910119000809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910119000809A), Jan 19, 1991: Cessna 150H, Mancos, CO, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Took off into area of heavy snow showers at night and collided with a mountainside. Made prior landing for bearings

## Other investigations on N7248S (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DEN78DTE09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78DTE09), Nov 1, 1977: Cessna 150H (N7248S), Durango, CO, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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