# NTSB MIA90FA017: Cessna 150L, N19007, Columbia, MS, October 25, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 25, 1989, 12:50 local (17:50 UTC)
- Place: Columbia, MS
- Coordinates: 31.249174, -89.82006 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2492&lon=-89.8201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32532/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA017

## Probable cause

SUICIDE.  THE PILOT'S EMOTIONAL STATE OF DISTRESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent
  - suicide - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - emotional reaction, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER THE PLT TOOK OFF, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A CLIMB, WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL THE ACFT WAS OUT OF SIGHT. ABOUT 3 TO 5 MIN LATER, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RATE OF DESCENT & IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IMPACT. NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND. THE PLT WAS RPRTD TO BE DISTRESSED BY ALLEGATION OF A RECENT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. IN A LETTER TO HIS PARENTS, HE ALLUDED TO TAKING HIS LIFE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19007](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19007-1989-12-12), registration cancelled 1989-12-12, S/N 15074087 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15074087
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Prillhart, George
- Registered owner: Kenneth Prilhart
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1989, 80 hours before
- Departed: ORO, COLUMBIA, MS
- Destination: ORO
- Airport: ORO, Columbia

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: JAN, 90 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 19891025042779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891025042779A), Oct 25, 1989: Cessna 150L, Columbia, MS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Aircraft dived into trees at steep angle and full power. Pilot left suicide notes to relatives and friends.

## Other investigations on N19007 (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 IAD74DLJ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD74DLJ05), Aug 4, 1974: Cessna 150 (N19007), Chocowinity, NC, 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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