# NTSB IAD96LA151: Cessna 150C, N1947Z, Liberty, KY, September 23, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 1996, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Liberty, KY - Coordinates: 37.309825, -84.92929 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3098&lon=-84.9293&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28112 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28112/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA151 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude, while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in in-flight collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - tree(s) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis According to an FAA inspector, the student pilot was not endorsed by his flight instructor within the last ninety days to make solo flights. Several witnesses reported that the student pilot/owner would overfly their homes at a low altitude. One witness reported that the airplane would 'fly low and then the engine would increase power to climb over the trees.' He stated that the airplane made several passes before it struck trees, then descended to the ground and was destroyed by fire. Examination of the accident site by FAA personnel revealed portions of the left wing in the wooded area. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failure of the airplane or engine. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 23, 1996, at 1200 eastern daylight time, N1947Z, a Cessna 150C, collided with trees near Liberty, Kentucky. The student pilot, the sole occupant was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Russellville, Kentucky, exact time unknown. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector, the pilot/owner was not endorsed by his flight instructor within the last ninety days to make solo flights. According to the FAA, several witnesses reported that the airplane was flying low over their homes before it struck trees. One of the witnesses reported that he was outside watching the airplane, "...circling around and swooping down low, then revved the engine as he turned to climb up over the trees and hill...it came around again, swooping down low, then revving the engine to pull up over the trees... ." He stated that he heard the airplane hit a tree, then he saw the left wing damaged. The witness stated that the airplane became slow and unstable before it pitched over and struck the ground at a steep angle. The airplane descended to the ground and was destroyed by fire. Examination of the accident site by the FAA revealed portions of the left wing tip in the wooded area. A couple of small branches with live foliage and fresh breaks were also located at the accident site. Examination of the airplane after the accident by the FAA did not disclose any pre-impact failure of the airplane or engine. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION A Medical Examination of the pilot/airplane owner was performed by Dr. Emily Craig, State Medical Examiner in Frankfort, Kentucky, on September 24, 1996. Toxicological testing was conducted by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI), in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The following results were obtained: 39.000 mg/dl Ethanol detected in Blood; No Ethanol detected in Urine; 79.000 mg/dl Ethanol detected in Muscle Fluid; 10.000 mg/dl N-Propanol detected in Blood; 1.000 mg/dl Acetaldehyde detected in Muscle Fluid. According to CAMI, the ethanol found in this case is most likely from postmortem ethanol production. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1947Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1947Z-2013-06-18), registration cancelled 2013-06-18, S/N 15059747, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150C - Registry model: [Cessna 150C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150c) (registry code 2071808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15059747 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edsel Woody - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 4M7, RUSSELLVILLE, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 130 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SME, 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 19960923029359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960923029359A), Sep 23, 1996: Cessna 150C, Gilpin, KY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) The pilot was operating the aircraft at low altitude over a heavy wooded area of casey county, Kentucky. Witness stated that the aircraft struck a tree… ## Other investigations on N1947Z (1) 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 UNK65X1431](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1431), Feb 17, 1965: Cessna 150 (N1947Z), Homestead, FL, 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.