# NTSB FTW89FA042: Cessna 150L, N6757G, Zachary, LA, January 18, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1989, 13:18 local (19:18 UTC)
- Place: Zachary, LA
- Coordinates: 30.659521, -91.150665 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6595&lon=-91.1507&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22759
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89FA042
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22759/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89FA042

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AFTER ENCOUNTERING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL WEATHER CONDITIONS (IMC) SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HIS INTENTIONAL TAKEOFF INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE OPERATOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF CONTROLLING ACCESS TO THEIR AIRPLANES BY STUDENT PILOTS IN KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING, AND HIS LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, company/operator management (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft control - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THIS WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S FIRST SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT. NO WX BRIEFING WAS OBTAINED NOR WAS A FLT PLAN FILED. A LARGE FRONTAL SYSTEM, WHICH EXTENDED OVER SEVERAL STATES, WAS APPROACHING THE AIRPORT. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST 12 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE. THE AIRPLANE INITIALLY STRUCK TREES IN A 50 DEG NOSE LOW, RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE WX AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS FOGGY, RAINY, WITH 1 MILE VISIBILITY. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RECEIVING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION FROM THE OPERATOR. HIS INSTRUCTOR DID NOT INDICATE HE WAS AWARE OF THE INTENDED FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE WAS BOOKED FROM THE OPERATOR. SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE TO THE PILOT PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE AND NOTED NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT HIM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6757G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6757G-1992-02-05), registration cancelled 1992-02-05, S/N 15072257 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15072257
- Airframe hours: 4259
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Topflight Inc.
- Registered owner: Walter J. Vaughan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 3, 1989, 20 hours before
- Departed: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA
- Destination: MCB, MCCOMB, MS
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point -0 °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 19890118000959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890118000959A), Jan 18, 1989: Cessna 150L, Zachary, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Student without proper supervision departed into IMC lost control and crashed.

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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