# NTSB FTW88DPA02: Cessna 150M, N63385, Gainesville, TX, December 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1987, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Gainesville, TX
- Coordinates: 33.630126, -97.150115 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6301&lon=-97.1501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DPA02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22442/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DPA02

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - normal
  - throttle/power lever,cable - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT LOST ENGINE POWER DUE TO A THROTTLE CABLE WHICH FAILED DURING FLIGHT.  HE THEN MADE A 360 DEGREE TURN TO LOSE ALTITUDE BEFORE INITIATING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON AN AIRPORT.  HE LOST EXCESSIVE ALTITUDE DURING THE TURN WHICH RESULTED IN AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD.  DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING, INITIAL CONTACT WAS MADE BY THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE GEAR, AND THEN THE RIGHT WING TIP.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63385](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63385-1996-03-05), registration cancelled 1996-03-05, S/N 15077275 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15077275
- Airframe hours: 3476
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mark D. Woodruff
- Registered owner: Sheppard, Douglas P.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 1987, 191 hours before
- Departed: TK 1, MCKINNEY, TX
- Airport: GLE, Gainesville Muni, runway 35, 4,500 × 100 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 404 total, 382 in this make and model, 76 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °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 19871227075769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871227075769A), Dec 27, 1987: Cessna 150M, Gainesville, TX, Substantial damage. Lost power entering airport pattern. Too high made a 360 then became too low. Landed off airport. Throttle broken.

## Other investigations on N63385 (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 FTW83LA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA202), Apr 22, 1983: Cessna 150M (N63385), Altus, OK, 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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