# NTSB FTW88FA074: Cessna 150J, N5522G, Henderson, TX, February 27, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 27, 1988, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Henderson, TX - Coordinates: 32.239017, -94.72927 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2390&lon=-94.7293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 22543 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88FA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22543/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA074 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - Midair collision, descent - normal - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - normal - wing - separation - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE CESSNA HAD JUST ROLLED OUT ON BASE ON 3RD OR 4TH TOUCH GO WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A BIPLANE THAT WAS NOT IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. COLLISION OCCURRED BETWEEN THE OUTER PANEL OF THE LEFT UPPER WING OF THE BIPLANE AND THE RT SIDE OF THE ENG COWLING OF THE CESSNA. NEITHER PLT IN THE CESSNA SAW THE BIPLANE PRIOR TO IMPACT AND THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT EVASIVE ACTION WAS NOT TAKEN BY EITHER ACFT. FOLLOWING IMPACT, THE CESSNA LANDED AT THE ARPT WITH A DAMAGED NOSE GEAR THAT COLLAPSED ON TOUCHDOWN. THE LEFT UPPER WING OF THE BIPLANE SEPARATED AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIRAL FROM WHICH THE PLT DID NOT RECOVER. THE CESSNA WAS HEADING DIRECTLY INTO THE SETTING SUN. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE CESSNA HAD JUST ROLLED OUT ON BASE ON 3RD OR 4TH TOUCH AND GO WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH A BIPLANE THAT WAS NOT IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. COLLISION OCCURRED BETWEEN THE OUTER PANEL OF THE LEFT UPPER WING OF THE BIPLANE AND THE RT SIDE OF THE ENG COWLING OF THE CESSNA. NEITHER PLT IN THE CESSNA SAW THE BIPLANE PRIOR TO IMPACT AND THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT EVASIVE ACTION WAS NOT TAKEN BY EITHER ACFT. FOLLOWING IMPACT, THE CESSNA LANDED AT THE ARPT WITH A DAMAGED NOSE GEAR THAT COLLAPSED ON TOUCHDOWN. THE LEFT UPPER WING OF THE BIPLANE SEPARATED AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIRAL FROM WHICH THE PLT DID NOT RECOVER. THE CESSNA WAS HEADING DIRECTLY INTO THE SETTING SUN. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N5522G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5522G), registered now, S/N 15071022, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150J - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15071022 - Airframe hours: 4728 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Craig B. Johnson - Registered owner: Johnson, Craig B. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 15, 1987 - Departed: WHITEHOUSE, TX - Destination: F12 - Airport: runway 16, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N5554](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5554-2012-09-24), registration cancelled 2012-09-24, S/N 1, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BUNCH EAA BIPLANE P2-M - Registry model: [Bunch EAA BIPLANE P 2-M](https://openairdocs.org/model/bunch-eaa-biplane-p-2-m) (registry code 33601AL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 112 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Will R. Ormsby - Registered owner: Ormsby, Will R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1987, 11 hours before - Departed: F12 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N5522G; age 38; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3,600 in this make and model, 149 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N5554; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 650 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GGG, 15 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 19880227016651A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880227016651A), Feb 27, 1988: Cessna 150J, Henderson, TX, Substantial damage. Struck N5554 from above while turning base. Lower aircrafts top wing collapsed and biplane spiraled impacted burned - [Accident 19880227016652A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880227016652A), Feb 27, 1988: Amtrea EAABIPLANEP2, Henderson, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck from above by N5522G while on base for landing. Top wing collapsed and biplane spiraled impacted and burned. ## Other investigations on N5522G (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 CHI94LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA016), Oct 3, 1993: Cessna 150J (N5522G), Grosse Ile, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE DURING THE BANNER PICKUP, WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOW ROPE SNAGGING THE LANDING GEAR, AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHILE LANDING WITH THE BANNER… 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.