# NTSB FTW95LA389: Cessna 150F, N8554G, Salida, CO, September 11, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 1995, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Salida, CO - Coordinates: 38.529823, -105.99958 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5298&lon=-105.9996&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19580 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA389 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19580/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA389 ## Probable cause FAILURE BY THE PILOT TO ADEQUATELY PLAN THE FLIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE CAPABILITY. FACTORS ARE: HIGH ALTITUDE, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, INADEQUATE TRAINING IN MOUNTAIN FLYING, AND LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not possible, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inaccurate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - inadequate training, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) ## Analysis WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS ON A CROSS COUNTRY INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT OUT CLIMB TERRAIN. A LANDING WAS MADE ON A ROAD AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A ROCK WALL DURING LANDING ROLL. DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 12,500 FEET MSL AND THE PUBLISHED AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE CAPABILITY WAS 12,600 FEET MSL. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT HAD NO MOUNTAIN FLYING EXPERIENCE OR TRAINING. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 1995, at 1230 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N8554G, made a forced landing approximately 10 miles south of Salida, Colorado, on Poncha Pass. The flight instructor and student pilot received minor injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this Title 14 CFR Part 91 cross country instructional flight and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight departed Canon City, Colorado, at 1130. Investigation revealed there were three aircraft flying in formation; a Cessna 172 with two persons aboard, a Cessna 150 with one person aboard, and the accident aircraft with two persons aboard. The three aircraft were attempting to climb over Poncha Pass which is 9,010 feet above mean sea level (msl). Density altitude at the pass was calculated as approximately 12,500 feet. The Cessna 172 and the Cessna 150 with one person aboard cleared the pass. The accident aircraft could not out climb surrounding terrain and a forced landing was made on a county road near the top of the pass when the flight instructor could not reverse course and decrease altitude. According to the flight instructor, the road made a turn which the aircraft could not negotiate and the aircraft collided with a rock wall during landing roll. The flight instructor said he was flying up the center of the valley towards the pass summit when he realized the aircraft could not out climb terrain. The flight instructor reported that he had 375 total flight hours and 62 hours in make and model at the time of the accident. The investigation revealed that he had no previous mountain flying experience and that he had received no training in mountain flying. According to the aircraft manual, the service ceilinf for this model and year of Cessna is 12,650 feet msl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8554G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8554G-1997-08-27), registration cancelled 1997-08-27, S/N 15062654 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15062654 - Airframe hours: 4560 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dominih J. Strobel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 31, 1995, 35 hours before - Departed: 1V6, CANON CITY, CO - Destination: MTJ, MONTROSE, CO - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 375 total, 62 in this make and model, 290 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GUC, 40 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 19950911028419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950911028419A), Sep 11, 1995: Cessna 150F, Salida, CO, Substantial damage. Unable to outclimb rising terrain in mountain pass, landed on a road. Collided with rock wall. Density altitude. 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.