# NTSB IAD96LA076: Cessna 150, N6303S, Welch, WV, May 10, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 1996, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Welch, WV - Coordinates: 37.36026, -81.10073 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3603&lon=-81.1007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 3, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28049/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA076 ## Probable cause the pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol which led to his failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear obstacles. A factor was his intentional buzzing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - buzzing - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis Witnesses observed the airplane flying low and erratically. One witness indicated that the airplane nearly struck power lines in front of his house and that the airplane appeared to be 'doing tricks.' Another witness reported that he met the pilot and the passenger in a bar before they went to the airport, and that they '...bought a six pack of beer and each of them drank just a little out of one can.' The airplane impacted power lines, then collided with terrain. Toxicological test results for the pilot indicated 183.000 mg/dl of ethanol detected in the blood (0.183% BAC) and 228.000 mg/dl of ethanol detected in the urine. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 1996, at 1610 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N6303S, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain after striking a static wire and power lines near Welch, West Virginia. The certificated private pilot and the one passenger sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The aircraft departed Welch Municipal Airport (I25) on a local flight at approximately 1550. One witness reported to the West Virginia State Police that he saw a plane "...the same one that was on TV at the crash scene. The plane was flying right here in front of the house and almost hit some power lines. I didn't see any smoke or anything. It appeared to be running fine. The plane looked like it was doing tricks or something. It would go straight up in the air and then come back down. Then I looked out a side window and saw the plane go straight up the hollow behind our house. About ...two (2) to five (5) minutes later I heard two (2) loud noises. Then I saw some white colored smoke blowing down from the area of some power lines. I just thought a transformer had blown up." A second witness reported to the West Virginia State Police that he "...met up with [the pilot ] and [the passenger] at [a bar] in Welch at 2:40 P.M. on the day they crashed. We decided to go up on the mountain so they could fly. They bought a six (6) pack of beer and each of them drank just a little out of one can." The witness reported that when they got to the airport the pilot did some work on the plane, taxied out to the runway, then "...he brought [the airplane] back and worked on it some more. After he worked on it a few minutes, he revved it up and it sounded real good. They got in the plane and I remember seeing [pilot] help fasten [passenger] in. I slammed the door shut on [passenger's] side and they took off." Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Toxicological examination of specimens from both airplane occupants was conducted by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on July 30 1996 and September 5, 1996. The toxicological report for the pilot indicated 183.000 mg/dl of ethanol detected in the blood and 228.000 mg/dl of ethanol detected in the urine. The toxicological report for the passenger indicated 134.000 mg/dl of ethanol detected in the blood and 2.000 mg/dl of acetaldehyde detected in the blood. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6303S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6303S-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 15067103, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15067103 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael Yeabower - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: I25, WV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 400 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BLF, 17 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 19960510010179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960510010179A), May 10, 1996: Cessna 150G, Welch, WV, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Struck power line and crashed after low level aerobatic flight. Alcohol in pilot and passengers system. 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.