# NTSB FTW90FA152: Cessna 150L, N10472, Leesville, LA, August 6, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1990, 18:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place: Leesville, LA
- Coordinates: 31.130886, -93.270988 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1309&lon=-93.2710&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23032
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA152
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23032/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA152

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VS WHILE MANEUVERING AND THE FACT THAT ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR RECOVERY FROM THE INADVERTENT STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE OWNER OF A LOST RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL AIRPLANE WERE ON AN AERIAL SEARCH FOR THE MODEL. A PERSON ON THE GROUND WAS TO ENTER THE WOODS AND SEARCH THE AREA UNDER WHICH THE AIRPLANE WAS CIRCLING. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF TO THE NORTH, MADE A LEFT TURN TOWARD THE SOUTH PART OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED AT LOW ALTITUDE, IN A STEEP LEFT BANK JUST BEFORE IT WENT NOSEDOWN TO THE TERRAIN, WHERE IT STARTED TO BURN AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. NO PRE-IMPACT PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE OR ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N10472](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10472-1993-05-27), registration cancelled 1993-05-27, S/N 15074872 (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: 15074872
- Airframe hours: 2563
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: James H. Hollenbeck
- Registered owner: Lease Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 27, 1990, 70 hours before
- Destination: LA24
- Airport: LA24, Leesville

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 262 total, 204 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: POE, 10 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 19900806030389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900806030389A), Aug 6, 1990: Cessna 150L, Leesville, LA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stalled at low altitude in a steep turn while circling wooded area to spot a lost model airplane. Vertical impact.

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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