# NTSB LAX84LA321: Cessna 150L, N242EZ, Benson, AZ, May 28, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 28, 1984, 16:44 local (23:44 UTC)
- Place: Benson, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.149806, -110.930854 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1498&lon=-110.9309&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24286
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA321
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24286/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA321

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

STUDENT PILOT WAS ON A CROSSCOUNTRY WHEN SHE BECAME LOST. EFFORTS WERE MADE TO ESTABLISH HER POSITION BY CONTACTING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ON THE EMERGENCY RADIO FREQUENCY. BY THE TIME HER POSITION WAS ESTABLISHED THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON ROLLING TERRAIN AND COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL OBSTRUCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N242EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N242EZ-1984-08-31), registration cancelled 1984-08-31, S/N 15075566 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15075566
- Airframe hours: 3645
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Arizona Airmotive, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 19, 1984, 23 hours before
- Departed: YUM, YUMA, AZ
- Destination: TUS, TUCSON, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: P33, Chochise County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 52 total, 46 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 106 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TUS, 33 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 19840528018979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840528018979A), May 28, 1984: Cessna 150L, Benson, AZ, Substantial damage. Student lost on solo crosscountry ran out of fuel. Landed in dry wash, collided with objects.

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.

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