# NTSB LAX91FA111: Cessna 150L, N18526, Carlsbad, CA, February 23, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1991, 19:12 local (Feb 23, 1991, 03:12 UTC)
- Place: Carlsbad, CA
- Coordinates: 33.130054, -117.299118 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1301&lon=-117.2991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91FA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26982/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91FA111

## Probable cause

THE CFI/PIC'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND THE CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF IMC CONDITIONS. THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF ANTIHISTAMINE AND THE LOW CEILING WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE PLANNING TO CONDUCT TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT A NEARBY AIRPORT, ABOUT 15 MILES EAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THEY DID ONE TAKEOFF AND LANDING AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, BUT WERE DENIED ANY FURTHER OPERATIONS BECAUSE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE BELOW VFR MINIMUMS. THE CFI REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE AND DEPARTED THE CONTROL ZONE TO THE EAST. ABOUT 2 MINUTES AFTER REPORTING CLEAR OF THE CONTROL ZONE, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A HILL 8 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT ABOUT 925 FEET MSL IN A WINGS AND NOSE LEVEL ATTITUDE. A HELICOPTER PILOT OPERATING IN THE AREA REPORTED CEILINGS OF ABOUT 800 TO 850 FEET MSL. TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE URINE OF THE CFI REVEALED A HIGH LEVEL OF ANTIHISTAMINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N18526](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18526-1993-05-19), registration cancelled 1993-05-19, S/N 15073915 (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: 15073915
- Airframe hours: 3208
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Aviation Services Inc.
- Registered owner: Air Mods Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 24, 1991, 64 hours before
- Destination: L39, RAMONA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,247 total, 2,112 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CRQ, 8 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 19910222003309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910222003309A), Feb 22, 1991: Cessna 150L, Carlsbad, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into side of a hill at night after departing special VFR under low ceiling.

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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