FTW95LA005

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150L · Booker, TX · October 2, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 1, 1994, 20:40 local (Oct 2, 1994, 01:40 UTC)
Place
Booker, TX
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N16191Cessna 150L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report May 4, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
19275

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath resulting in a collision with an object. Factors were the dark night and the pilot's disregard for the lack of lights.

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.

UndershootLanding
Proper glidepath - not maintainedKit manufacturerCause
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Airport facilities,runway edge lights - not available on selected runway
Unsafe/hazardous condition - disregardedPilot in commandFactor
Object - fence
Factor
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The pilot made two attempts to land on a dark night to an unlighted grass strip. On his third attempt he allowed the aircraft to sink too low and slow. A passenger warned the pilot to 'get it up' and the pilot applied full power; however, it struck a fence. Following the fence strike the pilot pulled off power and the aircraft collided with the terrain, coming to rest 30 yards from the fence.

Factual narrative

On October 1, 1994, at 2040 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N16191, was substantially damaged during landing near Booker, Texas. The airplane, flown by a commercial pilot, was on a personal flight from Dodge City, Kansas. No flight plan was filed and dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and one passenger were uninjured.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot made two previous attempts to land on the unlighted grass strip and executed two go-arounds. He further reported that on the third attempt to land he allowed the aircraft to "settle lower and slower than planned." The passenger stated "get it up" and the pilot applied "full power to climb." The pilot reported that immediately following the addition of power he "heard and felt a crunch." The pilot reduced power following the crunching sound and the aircraft struck the ground. After the pilot and his passenger exited the aircraft they discovered that the aircraft had struck a fence causing damage to the firewall and landing gear.

Aircraft

Registration
N16191
Reported as
Cessna 150L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15073535
Airframe hours
2,937
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Bauer, Jerome D.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · November 1, 1993 · 66 hours before
Departed
DDC · Dodge City, KS
Destination
NONE · TX
Airport
NONE · Figi Ranch, runway 13, 1,900 × ft, grass/turf

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
52
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,499 total · 1,310 in this make and model · 1,436 as pilot in command · 33 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
170° at 11 knots
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
0 ft
Temperature
73 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
GAG, 40 nm away