# NTSB FTW01LA060: Cessna 150K, N5695G, Bishop, TX, February 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 2001, 07:55 local (13:55 UTC) - Place: Bishop, TX - Coordinates: 27.5009, -97.860343 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5009&lon=-97.8603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 51751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51751/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA060 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain altitude and clearance from terrain. Contributing factors were the pilot's diverted attention and the low ceiling. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) ## Analysis The single engine airplane collided with the ground while in cruise flight during a VFR flight beneath a low cloud ceiling. After about 10 minutes of flight the pilot was leaning forward and trying to untangle the wires of his headset jacks when the airplane "unexpectedly" impacted the ground. He was flying at about 500 feet AGL and did not have a good horizon. No mechanical anomalies were found with the aircraft. The nearest weather reporting facility, located about 15 miles to the west of the accident site, reported the following visibility and cloud conditions close to the time of the accident: Visibility 4 miles, 500 feet broken, 1000 overcast. ## Factual narrative On February 8, 2001, at 0755 central standard time, a Cessna 150K airplane, N5695G, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain while in cruise flight in the vicinity of Bishop, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated at 0745 from the Bishop Municipal Airport, Bishop, Texas, and was en-route to the Valley International Airport, Harlingen, Texas. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he was leaning forward and trying to untangle the wires of his headset jacks when the airplane "unexpectedly" impacted the ground. He stated that he was flying at about 500 feet AGL and did not have a good horizon. An FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that ground impressions at the site indicated that the airplane impacted the ground in a near level attitude. There were skid marks extending about 50 feet from the initial impact point to where the airplane came to rest. Multiple propeller strike marks were found in the ground about 25 feet from the initial impact point. Toward the end of the skid marks, the airplane was found nosed over and inverted with the nose landing gear collapsed. Both lower engine mounts were found broken and the firewall was buckled. Both upper wing skins were found wrinkled when the airplane was righted. The nearest weather reporting facility, located about 15 miles to the west of the accident site, reported the following visibility and cloud conditions at 0739 and 0756: 0739 Visibility 4 miles, 500 feet overcast. 0756 Visibility 4 miles, 500 feet broken, 1000 overcast. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5695G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5695G-2007-04-27), registration cancelled 2007-04-27, S/N 15071195, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150K - Registry model: [Cessna 150K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150k) (registry code 2071822) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071195 - Airframe hours: 3000 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Anse E. Windham - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2000, 100 hours before - Departed: 07R, BISHOP, TX - Destination: HRL, HARLINGEN, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: minor; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 23, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 125 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 16 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: NQI, 15 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 20010208001229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010208001229A), Feb 8, 2001: Cessna 150K, Kingsville, TX, No damage. (.19)On February 8, 2001, at 0755 CST, a Cessna 150K airplane, N5695G, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during an in-flight… 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.