# NTSB FTW94FA203: Cessna 175B, N8103T, Sonora, TX, June 21, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 1994, 20:50 local (Jun 21, 1994, 01:50 UTC) - Place: Sonora, TX - Coordinates: 30.570962, -100.640228 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5710&lon=-100.6402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94FA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18905/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94FA203 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN OBSTACLE CLEARANCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - wire,transmission - object - tree(s) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE AIRPORT AND FLEW TO A GAS PLANT 6 NAUTICAL MILES TO THE SOUTH. A WITNESS AT THE GAS PLANT OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE STRIKE POWER LINES, AND ALMOST COLLIDE WITH GASOLINE TANKS AND A SMALL HILL. THE AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED WHILE LANDING, AFTER TOUCH DOWN, HE OBSERVED DEER RUN ONTO THE RUNWAY AND INTO THE PATH OF THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT HE ADDED POWER TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND, AND THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE CIRCLING THE AIRPORT AND GOLF COURSE AT A 'VERY' LOW ALTITUDE SEVERAL TIMES. THE AIRPLANE WAS THEN OBSERVED FLYING SLOW AT A LOW ALTITUDE HEADING SOUTH ALONG THE NUMBER ONE FAIRWAY OF THE GOLF COURSE. THE AIRPLANE THEN MADE A STEEP LEFT TURN, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE, NOSED DOWN, AND IMPACTED ON THE EDGE OF THE 7TH FAIRWAY OF THE GOLF COURSE. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 20, 1994, approximately 2050 central daylight time, a Cessna 175B, N8103T, was substantially damage while maneuvering near Sonora, Texas. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. The pilot reported the following information to the investigator in charge. He departed Sonora Airport and flew approximately 6 nautical miles south to the Enron gas plant to observe his current job site. After over flying the job site he returned to the Sonora Airport. During the landing to the south, after touch down, he observed deer run onto the runway and into the path of the airplane. He added power, flew over the deer and landed again. As he started to slow down, more deer ran onto the runway and he executed a go-around. He applied full power and the airplane did not respond properly. A witness at the Enron Gas Plant reported observing an airplane flying low and striking the power lines to the gas plant. The witness further reported, "after hitting power lines the plane just missed gasoline tanks and a mountain before leaving my view." A witness observed the airplane circling the airport and golf course at a "very" low altitude several times. The airplane was then observed flying slow at a low altitude heading south along the number one fairway of the golf course. The airplane then made a steep left turn, the left wing struck a tree, nosed down, and impacted on the edge of the 7th fairway of the golf course. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The private pilot's last biennial flight review was on January 20, 1987. His most recent medical is a third class dated November 30, 1989. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION A review of the airframe and engine records did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects prior to the flight. The last annual inspection was on December 10, 1992. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The aircraft came to rest at the initial ground scar on a measured magnetic heading of 290 degrees. The nose landing gear wheel was separated from the fuselage, and the airplane was resting on its nose. One propeller blade was bent aft, and neither blade displayed any significant chordwise scratching. The empennage was separated in front of the horizontal stabilizer and twisted 90 degrees to the right. The right horizontal stabilizer's leading edge was crushed aft. The right wing leading edge near the wing tip was crushed aft. The right fuel tank contained usable fuel, and was uncontaminated. The left wing was located 30 feet from the main fuselage in a tree approximately 50 feet above the ground. The wing was separated into two pieces outboard of the wing strut. The wing inboard of the landing light was crushed, buckled, and wrinkled equal to the diameter of the tree where the wing was found. Physical evidence of black smears were found on the leading edge within a dented area, and across the stall warning indicator. A piece of black matter was found wedged in a skin tear of the wing near the strut. The power line insulation was made of similar black matter. Pieces of plexiglass, a piece of landing light, and the upper left hand fairing for the wing strut was found at the Enron gas plant along the south side of the road near the newly repaired power lines. See enclosed wreckage diagram for wreckage distribution details. TEST AND RESEARCH A disassembly inspection of the Continental Model GO-300-C, S/N 16031-0-D reciprocating engine, at Teledyne Continental Motors, in Mobile, Alabama, on August 3, 1994, did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of power. ADDITIONAL DATA The airplane was released to the owner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8103T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8103T-1994-11-03), registration cancelled 1994-11-03, S/N 17556803 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175B - Registry model: [Cessna 175B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175b) (registry code 2072506) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17556803 - Airframe hours: 2749 - Engines: CONTINENTAL GO-300-D 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stewart, Louis A. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1992, 57 hours before - Departed: TX - Destination: TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 546 total, 265 in this make and model, 510 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SJT, 47 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 19940620015749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940620015749A), Jun 20, 1994: Cessna 175B, Sonora, TX, Substantial damage. Struck wires after takeoff. Returned. Landed golf course instead airport. Observed low slow turn. Stall into trees. ## Other investigations on N8103T (2) 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. - [NTSB FTW72DQD13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW72DQD13), Oct 9, 1971: Cessna 175B (N8103T), Sheffield, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW65D0015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW65D0015), Apr 13, 1965: Cessna 175 (N8103T), Pecos, TX, substantial damage 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.