# NTSB FTW88LA010: Cessna 150L, N17176, Lancaster, TX, October 22, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 22, 1987, 18:59 local (23:59 UTC)
- Place: Lancaster, TX
- Coordinates: 32.590568, -96.780334 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5906&lon=-96.7803&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 1, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22585
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88LA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22585/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA010

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - communications - initiated, pilot in command
  - identification of aircraft on radar - performed, atc personnel(dep/apch)
  - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor)
  - performed, pilot in command
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - instructions,written/verbal - improper, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause)
  - precautionary landing - initiated, pilot in command
  - light condition - dusk (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

WHILE RTRNG FM A X-COUNTRY, THE STUDENT BCM DISORIENTED & REQD ASSISTANCE. REDBIRD TWR CTLR ADZD DALLAS-FT WORTH TRACON THAT THE PLT WAS LOST & NEEDED A BEACON IDENTIFICATION. A FEW MIN LATER, THE ACFT'S LOCATION WAS DETERMINED & THE CTLR AT REDBIRD RELAYED A VECTOR FOR THE PLT TO FLY TO REDBIRD. LATER, THE PLT ADZD HIS FUEL LEVEL WAS GETTING LOW. HE WAS GIVEN A FREQ TO TALK TO TRACON DIRECTLY. COMMUNICATIONS WERE WEAK & OTHER CONSIDERATIONS PROMPTED THE TRACON CTLR TO VECTOR THE PLT TO LANCASTER. AFTER THE PLT FND THE ARPT, RADAR SVC WAS TERMINATED. BFR LNDG, THE PLT SAW AN X ON THE RWY (INDCG IT WAS CLOSED), SO HE ABORTED THE APCH & CIRCLED THE ARPT. IN DUSK CONDS, HE SAW A LIGHT COLORED AREA BESIDE THE CLOSED RWY WHICH APPEARED TO BE A NEW RWY & ELECTED TO LND; HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN AREA OF CONSTRUCTION WITH SOFT DIRT. DRG THE LNDG, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. WHEN THE TRACON CTLR CONTACTED REDBIRD TWR TO ADZ THE PLT HAD DIVERTED, HE WAS REMINDED THAT LANCASTER ARPT WAS NOTAMED AS CLOSED WITH HVY WORK ON THE RWY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N17176](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17176), registered now, S/N 15073649, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15073649
- Airframe hours: 2087
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Virgil Aircraft Co
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 1987, 37 hours before
- Departed: ABL, ABILENE, TX
- Destination: DALLAS-FT WORTH, TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: LNC, Lancaster, runway 31, 3,700 × 50 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 19; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °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 19871022060299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871022060299A), Oct 22, 1987: Cessna 150L, Lancaster, TX, Substantial damage. Lost and low on fuel was vectored by mistake to closed airport. Student saw x marker landed side of rwy. Nosed over

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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