# NTSB LAX97LA264: Cessna A150L, N9903G, Quartzsite, AZ, July 26, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1997, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Quartzsite, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.659683, -114.230987 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6597&lon=-114.2310&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29855
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA264
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29855/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA264

## Probable cause

The student pilot's decision to land the airplane on a residential street, where the airplane subsequently hit a sign during the landing roll.  Factors related to the accident were the student pilot becoming lost/disoriented during his cross country flight and his subsequent panic.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - light condition - daylight
  - terrain condition - residential area
  - object - sign
  - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (cause)
  - panic, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot was conducting his third unsupervised cross-country flight.  He stated that the aircraft 'seemed like it was low on fuel.'  He said he could not find the Blythe Airport on the VFR sectional.  He stated he panicked and circled Quartzsite looking for a place to land the airplane.  He finally elected to land on a city street.  During the landing rollout, the airplane's wing hit a signpost and the propeller contacted the ground.

## Factual narrative

On July 26, 1997, at 0800 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna A150L, N9903G, collided with a signpost during a precautionary landing at Quartzsite, Arizona.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot was not injured.  The aircraft was operated as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred.  The flight originated in Ryan, Arizona, at 0540 as a solo cross-country flight to Blythe, California.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the student had canceled his VFR flight plan prior to the precautionary landing.

The student pilot was conducting his third unsupervised cross-country flight.  He stated that the aircraft "seemed like it was low on fuel."  He said he could not find the Blythe Airport on the VFR sectional.  He stated he "panicked" and circled Quartzsite looking for a place to land the airplane.  He finally elected to land on a city street.  During the landing rollout, the airplane's wing hit a signpost and the propeller contacted the ground.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9903G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9903G), registered now, S/N A1500456 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna A150L
- Registry model: [Cessna A150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a150l) (registry code 2071828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A1500456
- Airframe hours: 12539
- Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dennis W. Genzman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1997, 69 hours before
- Departed: RYN, RYAN, AZ
- Destination: 1CA4, BLYTHE, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BLH, 26 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 19970726023629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970726023629A), Jul 26, 1997: Cessna A150L, Quartzsite, AZ, Substantial damage. Student unable find fueling airport panicked due low fuel. Elected land city stret. Hit signpost.

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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