# NTSB FTW89FA022: Cessna 150M, N63537, Fort Worth, TX, November 19, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 18, 1988, 18:36 local (Nov 19, 1988, 00:36 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Coordinates: 32.820674, -97.360031 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8207&lon=-97.3600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22753
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA022
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22753/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA022

## Probable cause

FAILURE TO THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT PILOT TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, AND HE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS IN SUFFICIENT TIME RETURN TO THE AIRPORT PRIOR TO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITONS, PRECLUDING A SAFE ARRIVAL BACK AT THE AIRPORT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR DEPARTED FOR A ONE HOUR LOCAL TRAINING FLIGHT. DURING THE HOUR THE WEATHER DETERIORATED TO AN INDEFINITE THREE HUNDRED FEET, SKY OBSCURED WITH VISIBILITY TWO MILES IN FOG. NO WEATHER BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED FLYING LOW AND SLOW OVER A HIGHWAY JUST PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE UPPER STATIC LINE OF A POWER LINE AND CRASHING INVERTED ONTO THE WEST BOUND TWO LANES OF A HIGHWAY. NO FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63537](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63537-1990-02-14), registration cancelled 1990-02-14, S/N 15077381 (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: 15077381
- Airframe hours: 5088
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Acme School Of Aeronautics
- Registered owner: Acme School Of Aeronautics
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 5, 1988, 60 hours before
- Departed: FTW, FORT WORTH, TX
- Destination: FTW

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 368 total, 252 in this make and model, 327 as pilot in command, 132 in the last 90 days, 104 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTW, 6 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 19881118051319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881118051319A), Nov 18, 1988: Cessna 150M, Fort Worth, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Continued local dual flight into nightime and low ceiling with fog. Following a truck on a highway hit powerline.

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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