- Date
- June 16, 1993, 11:13 local (16:13 UTC)
- Place
- Navasota, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N11069Cessna 150L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 25, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930616018929A
- Case key
- 18776
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Partial power loss due to left magneto fluctuating due to loose coil. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During the solo cross country flight with reported haze, the student pilot had descended to 2,000 feet MSL to remain below the clouds. The engine started running rough and the airplane would not maintain altitude. The student pilot made a forced landing into a field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a fence, and fence post, and came to rest nose down. An examination of the engine and accessories revealed that the left magneto was not firing at times and other times would fire in a random sequence. An internal examination of the left magneto revealed that the coils were loose
Factual narrative
On June 16, 1993, at approximately 1113 central daylight time a Cessna 150L, N11069, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a fence and fence post during a forced landing following a loss of partial engine power. The solo student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the solo cross country instructional flight.
During interviews conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration inspectors with the operator, owner, pilot, and flight instructor, the following information was revealed. This flight was the first solo cross country flight for the student. The preflight preparation was completed by the student and the flight departed the Spring, Texas, airport at approximately 1050. During cruise flight, at 2,000 feet MSL, approximately 30 miles northwest of Spring, Texas, the pilot smelled fuel. A check of the flight surroundings and the cockpit area for smoke did not reveal a source. The student pilot stated that within a few seconds the right fuel gauge went to zero and the engine started running rough. Altitude could not be maintained and the pilot selected a field for an emergency landing. The flaps were extended ten degrees and the carburetor heat was pulled to the on position as the power was reduced to idle. During the landing roll the airplane hit the barbed wire and fence post, then cartwheeled along the ground, and came to rest with the nose down.
An examination of the site by the Federal Aviation Administration inspectors did not reveal any evidence of fire. Flight control continuity was established and fuel was found in both fuel tanks.
An examination of the engine and accessories by the inspectors and the engine representative (report enclosed) revealed the following information. The left magneto was not firing continuously and was firing in a random sequence. An internal examination of the magneto revealed a loose coil. Maintenance records reviewed by the investigator in charge indicated that on May 26, 1992, the new left magneto had been installed.
The airplane was released to the owner following the investigation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N11069
- Reported as
- Cessna 150L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15075196
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Horizon Aviation
- Registered owner
- Street, Jeffrey L.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 13, 1993
- Departed
- DWH · Spring, TX
- Destination
- CLL · College Station, TX
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 32 total · 32 in this make and model · 5 as pilot in command · 32 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CLL, 302 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.
Other investigations on N11069 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.