# NTSB FTW93FA150: Cessna 150M, N63574, Liberty Hill, TX, May 9, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 9, 1993, 18:35 local (23:35 UTC) - Place: Liberty Hill, TX - Coordinates: 30.270603, -98.869064 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2706&lon=-98.8691&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18654 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93FA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18654/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93FA150 ## Probable cause THE INADVERTENT STALL WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO RECOVER BEFORE TERRAIN CONTACT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis DURING A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT, DESIGNED TO SHOW HIS PASSENGER THE LOCAL AREA, THE PILOT IN COMMAND STALLED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE WAS MANEUVERING AT APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WHEN CONTROL WAS LOST. THE THROTTLE WAS FOUND IN THE CLOSED POSITION AND FLAPS WERE UP. IMPACT WAS VERTICAL. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT: On May 9, 1993, at 1835 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N63574, was destroyed on impact with the ground near at Liberty, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot (ATP) and his passenger sustained fatal injuries. Weather for the local area flight was visual meteorological conditions. Crystal Finger Corporation was the registered owner. Information provided by the owner to the investigator in charge (IIC) indicated that the ATP, who was also a certified flight instructor (CFII), rented the airplane for the purpose of showing his passenger the local area. A witness observed the airplane circling the area and heard the engine "splutter and then go silent." He further reported that the airplane "suddenly dropped its nose and dove to the ground." The airplane impacted approximately 250 yards from the airport and in a large pasture, approximately 100 acres. PERSONNEL INFORMATION: Information provided by friends of the passenger indicated that he was a former military pilot; however, the passenger held no U.S. civilian pilot's certificates or had been issued a medical certificate. Friends of the pilot reported that he had flown in the Iranian Air Force as a fighter pilot. The emergency medical personnel and local law enforcement officials positively placed the pilot in command in the right seat. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION: A review of the records and a physical examination of the aircraft revealed no pre existing conditions that would have contributed to this accident. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION: An examination of the physical evidence at the scene revealed that the airplane was imbedded in the ground nose first and the fuselage was in an erect position 90 degrees from the terrain angle. There was evidence of rotational rubbing on the ground in a clockwise direction. Both wings exhibited folding of the leading edges, the right wing leading edge was folded in an upward motion, and the left wing leading edge was folded in a downward motion. The right wing tip navigation light was found in a hole at the beginning of the rub marks and pieces of glass were scattered along the rub mark. Signatures in the ground were measured; they corresponded with the manufacturer's published dimensions for the aircraft's wing span. It was documented that the engine throttle was in the closed position (full aft) and bent so that it could not be pushed forward. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION: An autopsy on the pilot was performed by the Travis County, Texas, Medical Examiner. Toxicology testing was performed by the Civil Aeronautical Medical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Their testing established that the pilot in command's urine contained morphine marihuana; however, none was found in the in the blood. The Regional Flight Surgeon's enclosed report does not categorize the pilot as impaired from these drugs. TESTS AND RESEARCH: The engine was examined after removal from the air frame, no anomalies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63574](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63574-1994-07-26), registration cancelled 1994-07-26, S/N 15077403 (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: 15077403 - Airframe hours: 4089 - Engines: LYCOMING O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Crystal Finger Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 1992, 29 hours before - Departed: SX12 - Destination: SX12 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,700 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: T04, 1 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 19930509012619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930509012619A), May 9, 1993: Cessna 150M, Lampasas, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stalled maneuvering 150FT AGL. Impact vertical power off. 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.