# NTSB FTW90FA063: Cessna 172M, N128S, Tomball, TX, February 4, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 4, 1990, 13:37 local (19:37 UTC) - Place: Tomball, TX - Coordinates: 30.090227, -95.609756 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0902&lon=-95.6098&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 September 17, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 23009 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23009/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA063 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN CESSNA 150, N714RS, TO COMPLY WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCE, AND FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT IN THE CESSNA 172, N128S, DUE TO USE OF DRUGS (CANNABINOIDS), AND FAILURE OF THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO ISSUE A SAFETY ADVISORY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - atc clearance - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - impairment(drugs), pilot in command (contributing factor) - safety advisory - not issued, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - atc clearance - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - impairment(drugs), pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - safety advisory - not issued, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) AT TIME OF HVY TFC, CESSNA 150 PLT (C150, N714RS) CTCD TWR & WAS TOLD TO RPRT ON 3 MI L BASE FOR RWY 35L. INSTEAD, HE RPRTD ON L DWNWND FOR 35L & WAS TOLD TO FLW CESSNA (N9DZ), AHD OF HIM ON DWNWND. AT 1335:00 (35 SEC LTR), CESSNA 172 PLT (C172, N128S, ON A STRAIGHT-IN-APCH) RPRTD 3 MI FINAL FOR RWY 35L; HE WAS TOLD TO FLW 'CESSNA (N9DZ) TURNING LEFT BASE IN FRONT OF YOU.' AT 1335:27, C150 PLT WAS TOLD TO FLW CESSNA (C172) ON 1-1/2 MI FINAL; C150 PLT ACKNOWLEDGED. AT 1336:29, C172 WAS CLRD TO LND (BHND N9DZ). AS C150 TURNED ON FINAL, IT CONVERGED WITH C172. TWR CTLR NOTED CONFLICT & ASKED C150 PLT IF HE COULD SIDE STEP TO RWY 35R; C150 PLT GAVE NEGATIVE REPLY, THEN WAS TOLD TO GO ARND, (NO SPECIFIC SAFETY ADZY WAS ISSUED). ABT 8 SEC LTR, THE 2 ACFT COLLIDED ABT 100' OVR RWY THRESHOLD WITH C150'S PROP SEVERING TAIL OF C172. C172 CRASHED ON RWY; C150 LNDD WITH MINOR DMG. TOX CHECK OF C172 PLT'S BLOOD INDCD 118 NG/ML OF DELTA-9-TETRA- HYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID; HIS URINE HAD 1.0 MG/L OF 11-NOR-DELTA-9-TETRAHYDROCANNOBINOL-9-CARBOXYLIC ACID. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N128S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N128S-1992-04-20), registration cancelled 1992-04-20, S/N 17262981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17262981 - Airframe hours: 8197 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: National Aviation Services - Registered owner: Andrew B. Jarnagin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1989, 85 hours before - Departed: DWH - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks, runway 35L, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N714RS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N714RS), registered now, S/N 15079380, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15079380 - Airframe hours: 2247 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George Toth - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, December 13, 1989, 27 hours before - Departed: DWH - Destination: DWH - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks, runway 35L, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N128S; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 231 total, 211 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N714RS; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 114 total, 92 in this make and model, 91 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 12 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DWH ## 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 19900204001582A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900204001582A), Feb 4, 1990: Cessna 172M, Houston, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On short final was struck by N714RS. - [Accident 19900204001581A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900204001581A), Feb 4, 1990: Cessna 150M, Houston, TX, Minor damage. With no clearance to land turned into struck N128S that was on short final refused sidestep 35R. Go around too late 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.