LAX93LA254

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150L · Yucaipa, CA · June 12, 1993

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 12, 1993, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
Place
Yucaipa, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N19507Cessna 150L
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 30, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19930612020969A
Case key
28407

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the flight instructor's selection of unsuitable terrain for the forced landing demonstration. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude existing at the time of the mishap.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with terrain/waterClimb - to cruise
Terrain condition - rising
Weather condition - high density altitudeFactor
Aircraft performance,climb capability - exceeded
In-flight planning/decision - inadequatePilot in command(cfi)
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selectedPilot in command(cfi)Cause

Analysis

The flight instructor said he was demonstrating an engine out forced landing procedure to his student. On base leg for the selected landing area the instructor decided to terminate the exercise. He said he applied full power and began a climb at best angle of climb airspeed. The aircraft could not out climb the rising terrain and settled onto its landing gear at about the 3,750 foot MSL level of some hilly terrain. As the aircraft rolled along the nose gear encountered soft soil and the aircraft nosed over onto its back. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical failure of the engine or airframe. The density altitude was calculated at about 6,000 feet.

Factual narrative

On June 12, 1993, at 0945 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N19507, collided with rising terrain near Yucaipa, California, during climb out from a practice forced landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated flight instructor and his non certificated dual primary student were not injured. The flight originated at the Redlands, California, airport on the day of the mishap at 0900 hours as a local area dual instructional flight.

In both a telephone interview and his written statement, the flight instructor said he was demonstrating an engine out forced landing procedure to his student. On base leg for the selected landing area the instructor decided to terminate the exercise. He said he applied full power and began a climb at best angle of climb airspeed. The aircraft could not out climb the rising terrain and settled onto its landing gear at about the 3,750 foot MSL level of some hilly terrain. As the aircraft rolled along, the nose gear encountered soft soil and the aircraft nosed over onto it's back. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical failure of the engine or airframe. The density altitude was calculated at about 6,000 feet.

Aircraft

Registration
N19507
Reported as
Cessna 150L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15074458
Airframe hours
3,193
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
George E. Whittington
Registered owner
Anders E. Testman
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · May 12, 1993 · 97 hours before
Departed
L12 · Redlands, CA

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
45
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
891 total · 769 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.