LAX94LA240

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150M · Lancaster, CA · May 27, 1994

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 27, 1994, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
Place
Lancaster, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N63105Cessna 150M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 7, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19940527013989A
Case key
28761

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 failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin while maneuvering at minimum controllable airspeed. A factor in the accident was the instructor's selection of an inadequate above ground altitude to begin the maneuver.

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.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
Airspeed(vs) - not maintainedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Stall - inadvertentDual student
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Altitude - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - berm

Analysis

About 4,100 feet msl (1,300 agl), the instructor asked the student to demonstrate minimum controllable airspeed. The student complied and configured the aircraft with full flaps and slowed to the minimum airspeed with the stall warning horn on steady. The instructor reported that the aircraft began to deviate in heading and he applied full power and right rudder. The aircraft suddenly stalled and rolled completely around the longitudinal axis, then began an uncontrolled descent toward the ground. The instructor said he was able to recover at an estimated 3 to 4 feet agl, and the left wing tip hit a berm. The instructor climbed the aircraft back to cruise altitude and continued the flight to the destination.

Factual narrative

On May 27, 1994, at 1345 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N63105, struck the left wing tip on a berm following an in-flight loss of control near Lancaster, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by Professional Pilot Training of Burbank, California, and was engaged in local area dual primary flight training. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial internal damage to the left wing ribs and stringers. Neither the certificated commercial pilot flight instructor nor his dual primary student were injured. The flight originated at Burbank, California, on the day of the accident at 1230 as a dual instructional flight.

The accident was reported to the National Transportation Safety Board on June 6, 1994, following assessment by company maintenance personnel of the damage extent. In a telephone interview, the pilot said the purpose of the flight was to practice ground reference maneuvers. After departure from Burbank, the flight proceeded to a desert area near Lancaster where the maneuvers could be accomplished in an unpopulated area. The instructor said that after the maneuvers were finished, the student began a climb to cross a mountain range between Lancaster and Burbank.

About 4,100 feet msl (1,300 agl), the instructor asked the student to demonstrate minimum controllable airspeed. The student complied and configured the aircraft with full flaps and slowed to the minimum airspeed with the stall warning horn on steady. The instructor reported that the aircraft began to deviate in heading and he applied full power and right rudder. The aircraft suddenly stalled and rolled completely around the longitudinal axis, then began an uncontrolled descent toward the ground. The instructor said he was able to recover at an estimated 3 to 4 feet above ground level and the left wing tip hit a berm. The instructor climbed the aircraft back to cruise altitude and continued the flight back to Burbank.

Aircraft

Registration
N63105
Reported as
Cessna 150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15077108
Airframe hours
6,278
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Professional Pilot Training
Registered owner
Michael G. Magras
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · May 27, 1994 · 2 hours before
Departed
BUR · Burbank, CA
Destination
BUR

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
36
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
546 total · 157 in this make and model · 522 as pilot in command · 124 in the last 90 days · 63 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 15 knots, gusting 20
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
73 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

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