# NTSB LAX92FA130: Cessna 150M, N45165, San Ysidro, CA, February 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 29, 1992, 08:56 local (16:56 UTC)
- Place: San Ysidro, CA
- Coordinates: 32.549839, -117.040229 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5498&lon=-117.0402&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27407
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27407/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA130

## Probable cause

THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S IMPROPER SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT TO CORRECT THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS RESULTING IN AN EXCESSIVE ANGLE OF ATTACK AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER AIRSPEED. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - supervision - improper, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - flight controls - not corrected, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, dual student (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - open field

## Analysis

A CESSNA 150M COLLIDED WITH LEVEL TERRAIN AFTER EXPERIENCING AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL.  THE AIRPLANE HAD COMPLETED A TOUCH AND GO LANDING AND TAKEOFF.  WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS ON THE INITIAL CLIMB PHASE THE LOCAL CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO CHANGE THE LANDING RUNWAY.  THE FLIGHT WAS INSTRUCTED TO TURN RIGHT PROCEED SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT AND ENTER LEFT TRAFFIC TO LAND ON THE OPPOSITE RUNWAY.  TOWER PERSONNEL OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE BETWEEN 200 - 300 FEET AGL WHEN IT ENTERED INTO A LEFT SPIN, DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AND IMPACTED THE LEVEL TERRAIN NORTH OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.  A PILOT WITNESS REPORTED THAT HE FIRST NOTICED THE AIRPLANE CLIMBING AT A UNUSUALLY NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE ABOUT 100 FT. AGL AND LEVEL OFF MOMENTARILY.  ABOUT 10 SECONDS LATER, AT ABOUT 150 FT. AGL, THE AIRPLANE AGAIN ENTERED INTO AN EXTREME NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, STALLED AND SPUN TO THE LEFT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N45165](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45165-1994-06-10), registration cancelled 1994-06-10, S/N 15076763 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 76763
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Escalante, Juan N, III
- Registered owner: Escalante, Juan N, III
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 15, 1991
- Airport: SDM, Brown Field, runway 26, 7,999 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,960 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SDM, 1 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 19920229004599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920229004599A), Feb 29, 1992: Cessna 150M, San Diego, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stalled on nose high climbout after instructions to change runway. Spun into ground and burned off end of runway.

## Other investigations on N45165 (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 LAX77DNJ52](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77DNJ52), May 21, 1977: Cessna 150 (N45165), Yuma, AZ, 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.

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