# NTSB MIA91LA086: Cessna 150L, N1469Q, Everglades City, FL, February 24, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1991, 20:30 local (Feb 24, 1991, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Everglades City, FL
- Location: 25.8601° N, 81.3804° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Everglades City, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.8601&lon=-81.3804&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32825
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA91LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32825/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA91LA086

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. FACTORS WERE: DARK NIGHT CONDITION, PENETRATION OF A CLOUD, AND SPATIAL DISORIENTATION RESULTING IN A SPIRAL.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, flight instructor(on ground) (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

DURING THE RETURN LEG OF A STUDENT PLT SOLO CROSS COUNTRY AT NIGHT, THE STUDENT PLT FLEW INTO A CLOUD & BECAME DISORIENTED.  THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIRAL & DESCENDED UNTIL IMPACT WITH TERRAIN.  THERE WERE NO GROUND REFERENCE LIGHTS IN THE AREA OF THE LOSS OF CONTROL.  THE STUDENT PLT DEPARTED ON THE FIRST LEG (1 HR FLT) OF A TWO LEG CROSS COUNTRY FLT 47 MINUTES BEFORE THE OFFICIAL END OF TWILIGHT.  HIS CFI REPORTEDLY REVIEWED HIS FLT PLANNING BUT DID NOT SIGN THE STUDENT'S LOGBOOK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1469Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1469Q-2012-10-11), registration cancelled 2012-10-11, S/N 15072769, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15072769
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Trans-American Airways, Inc.
- Registered owner: Trans-American Airways, Inc.
- Departed: APF, NAPLES, FL
- Destination: TMB, MIAMI, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APF, 32 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 19910223003399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910223003399A), Feb 23, 1991: Cessna 150L, Everglades, FL, Substantial damage. Student on night crosscountry flew into cloud,got vertigo and impacted in Everglades.

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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