IAD01FA097

The flight instructor and student pilot were returning from a cross country flight, when a witness on the ground heard the airplane's engine "just cut-out". The witness looked up and saw the airplane "flying as it should." He said the airplane then "turned into a nose-dive" and started to spin toward the ground. As the airplane descended, the witness said it appeared as if the pilot was fighting the airplane. He also heard the engine trying to be re-started. The witness said the airplane "stayed in a consistent spiral" with a "really wide axis" until it disappeared into the trees. Additionally, he said the airplane took a long time to descend to the ground, and that the pilot had plenty of time to recover. The last nine seconds of recorded radar data indicated that the airplane had descended from 5,000 feet to 4,300 feet. The distance between the last radar return and the location of the accident site was approximately 765 feet. Three of the flight instructor's students reported that the flight instructor had asked them if they wanted to learn spins during their flight lessons. According to two students, the flight instructor would enter the spin from a power on stall, and recover after two to three rotations. However, on one occasion, a student said the flight instructor, "did a whole lot of rotations...way more than three. I estimated that we did about 10 rotations, but I am not exactly sure...The spiral was tight...The more we let it spin, the tighter the rotations. However, he had no problem recovering the airplane." The flight instructor had accrued a total of about 1,485.7 flight hours, of which 234.4 hours were in make and model, and 1,051.6 total hours were as flight instructor. Review of Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 61.107- Flight Proficiency, an applicant for a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land is not required to receive and log spin training from an authorized instructor. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed that there were no mechanical deficiencies.

History of flight

On August 14, 2001, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N63351, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees then terrain on residential property in McGaheysville, Virginia. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were fatally injured. No flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (MRB), Martinsburg, West Virginia, about 1455, destined for the Shenandoah Regional Airport, Shenandoah, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional cross country flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

Review of air traffic control communications revealed that the pilots had received flight following services from Richmond approach control, Richmond, Virginia, while en route to Shenandoah.

The last recorded communication with the pilots was when they contacted Richmond approach control, reported the Shenandoah Airport in sight, and cancelled flight following services. Approach control then advised them that radar service was terminated, and to change to advisory frequency.

Examination of radar data revealed a target tracking south of Martinsburg toward Winchester Regional Airport, Winchester, Virginia, at 1455. At 1509, the target crossed the Winchester Airport at an approximate altitude of 4,600 feet before the radar data momentarily ended. At 1516, the target was reacquired and it now tracked south toward the Linden VOR, Linden, Virginia. At 1519, the target crossed the Linden VOR at an altitude of 4,300 feet. The target then tracked to the southwest on a direct course for Shenandoah Airport.

Between 1541 and 1544, the target climbed from an altitude of 4,300 feet up to 4,900 feet, and began to track to the south.

At 1545, the target was at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Only two more radar returns were recorded after the target reached this altitude. Examination of the last two radar returns revealed that the target had descended to an altitude of 4,300 feet in approximately nine seconds.

The last recorded radar return was located at 38 degrees, 23 minutes north latitude, and 78 degrees, 43 minutes west longitude.

During a telephone interview, a witness said that he was standing on his back deck, which was located about 300 yards from the accident site. It was just before 1600, when he heard an airplane's engine "just cut-out". The witness looked up and saw the airplane "flying as it should" at an altitude of approximately 7,000 feet. He said the airplane then "turned into a nose dive" and started to spin toward the ground.

As the airplane was descending, the witness said it appeared as if the pilot was fighting the airplane. He also heard the engine trying to be re-started. The witness said the airplane "stayed in a consistent spiral with a really wide axis" as it descended to the ground and disappeared into the trees.

The witness also said the airplane took a long time to descend to the ground, and that the pilot had plenty of time to recover.

A second witness was in his home when he heard the sound of a tree falling in his backyard. In a written statement, he said:

"At approximately 3:45 p.m., I heard a sound like a tree falling. I proceeded to look out the back door and saw a lot of leaves, limbs, and dirt flying around in our lower woods. Then I noticed the tail end of an airplane, white in appearance...I did not go down to the aircraft."

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight approximately 38 degrees, 23 minutes north latitude, and 78 degrees, 43 minutes west longitude. The elevation was approximately 1,444 feet mean seal level (msl).

Personnel information

The flight instructor held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land and instrument airplane. He also held a flight instructor certificate for airplane single engine land. He was limited to flying Cessna series aircraft from the right seat only due to physical limitations of his right arm. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical was issued on August 9, 2001.

Two of the instructor's logbooks were examined. The first logbook began in April 1998, and then continued into another logbook, where the last entry was made on July 31, 2001. Between those times, the pilot had recorded a total of about 1,485.7 hours, of which 234.4 hours were in make and model, and 1,051.6 total hours were as flight instructor.

Examination of the student pilot's logbook revealed that the first entry was made on July 2, 2001, and the last entry was made on August 8, 2001. He had accrued a total of 27.1 hours, of which 26.2 hours were in make and model. Also, there were no written remarks in his logbook that indicated he had received spin training. The student pilot's most recent FAA medical was issued on July 12, 2001.

According to the president of Shenandoah Flight Services, the student pilot's primary flight instructor was not available to fly on the day of the accident, so he asked another flight instructor to substitute. According to the primary flight instructor, he did not brief the substitute instructor or provide him with a flight lesson plan before the flight.

Meteorological information

Weather at Shenandoah Valley Airport (SHD), Harrisonburg, Virginia, at 1545, was reported as wind from 040 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 84 degrees F, dew point 70 degrees F, and altimeter setting 29.97 inches HG.

Wreckage and impact information

An on-scene examination of the wreckage was performed on August 14-15, 2001, and all major components of the airplane were accounted for at the scene. The airplane came to rest in a wooded area with 100-foot high trees, in the backyard of a private residence. The airplane came to rest upright, with it's left wing low, on a heading of 045 degrees.

Examination of the trees surrounding the wreckage revealed impact scars to only one standing tree. The engine, which remained attached to the airplane, came to rest against the left side of this tree. Examination of the tree revealed successional impact scars down the southwest side of the tree. The last impact mark on the tree was near the base. This impact mark curved to the left toward the opposite side of the tree. Several small and medium sized tree branches were noted on top of, and around the airplane.

Both wings remained attached at the wing root, but were partially swept backwards. The right wing had leading edge impact damage along the mid-section of the wing. The impact damage and wing strut exhibited brown transfer streaks. These streaks were perpendicular and vertical in relation to the wing's leading edge. Embedded in these streaks were small pieces of tree bark. The outboard section of the wing was bent upwards, and the tip was intact. The flap and aileron exhibited impact damage.

The right fuel tank had a small rupture on the lower inboard seam. Fuel was noted to sporadically leak from the tank during the on-scene examination. The fuel cap was intact, and fuel was present inside the tank.

The left wing had leading edge impact damage, and the strut was compressed under the wing. The outboard section of the wing was intact and bent upward about 135 degrees. A dead tree was found lying on the fractured portion of the wing, parallel to the fuselage. Examination of the tree revealed a fresh impact scar with white and red transfer marks at the point where the tree was laying across the left wing. Red electrical wires were found in the area where the wing was fractured. The wires exhibited impact damage. The aileron and flap exhibited impact damage.

The left wing fuel tank was intact and filled with fuel. The fuel was light blue in color and absent of debris.

The flap actuator was in the zero degree position.

The empennage was pulled downward fr