# NTSB LAX92FA212: Cessna 150, N191P, Cottonwood, AZ, May 21, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1992, 17:45 local (May 21, 1992, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Cottonwood, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.750961, -112.010047 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7510&lon=-112.0100&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): 27430
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA212
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27430/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA212

## Probable cause

A FAILURE OF THE STUDENT PILOT TO CONDUCT AN ADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION TO REMOVE CONTAMINATED FUEL; A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED TO PREVENT AN INADVERTENT STALL.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM TO DETECT A LEAKING FUEL CAP, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT BY THE PILOT-INCOMMAND.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - fuel system,cap - leak (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, unknown (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, unknown (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, THE NON-CERTIFICATED STUDENT PILOT FUELED THE AIRPLANE FROM A 5-GALLON CONTAINER WITH AUTOMOTIVE FUEL.  HE THEN INVITED A CERTIFICATED PILOT TO ACCOMPANY HIM ON A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE DEPART AND APPEARED TO CLIMB SLOWLY AT A SLOW AIRSPEED.  DURING A LEFT TURN AFTER DEPARTURE, OTHER WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH, SPUTTERING, AND THEN QUIT RUNNING.  THE AIRPLANE THEN BANKED TO THE RIGHT AND DESCENDED IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE, STRIKING A CEDAR TREE AND MOBILE HOME.  THE AIRPLANE WAS CONSUMED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT FUEL TANK THAT WAS NOT DAMAGED BY FIRE, REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF OVER A QUART OF WATER.  THE INTERIOR FILLER NECK AND FUEL CAP HAD EVIDENCE OF RUST.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N191P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N191P-1992-10-22), registration cancelled 1992-10-22, S/N 17704 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17704
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Manion, Bernard
- Registered owner: Crozier, Rory
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 1992, 26 hours before
- Departed: P52
- Destination: P52
- Airport: P52, Cottonwood, runway 14, 4,250 × 75 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,900 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: PRC, 20 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 19920520015479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920520015479A), May 20, 1992: Cessna 150, Cottonwood, AZ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Lost power on nose high climbout. Stalled during turnout. Vertical impact. Water dirt in fuel. Cracked rocker arm.

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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