# NTSB MKC89FA102: Cessna 150H, N22875, Carnegie, OK, May 4, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 3, 1989, 22:10 local (May 4, 1989, 03:10 UTC)
- Place: Carnegie, OK
- Coordinates: 35.099117, -98.589378 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0991&lon=-98.5894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34680
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89FA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34680/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89FA102

## Probable cause

CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH RISING/HILLY TERRAIN.  RELATED FACTORS WERE:  INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT, DARK NIGHT, ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND RISING/HILLY TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT & PAX HAD FLOWN FROM HOBART TO OKLAHOMA CITY EARLIER IN THE DAY. AT APRX 2115 CDT, THE PLT TOOK OFF ON THE RETURN FLT WITHOUT FILING A FLT PLAN OR RCVG AN FAA WX BRIEFING. BY THAT TIME, WX HAD DIMINISHED ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLT, WHICH WAS TO THE WSW OF OKLAHOMA CITY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT IMPACTED ON RISING TERRAIN, WHILE IN ABOUT A 30 DEG, RIGHT BANK ATTITUDE ON A HDG OF 130 DEG. THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED FROM IMPACT & FIRE. NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS OR ENG WAS FOUND. ACCORDING TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL, THERE WAS THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WITH HEAVY RAIN & REDUCED VISIBILITY IN THE AREA OF THE ACDNT. THE PLT'S LAST MED CERT WAS DATED 3/30/84. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED THE PRESENCE OF ETHANOL; HOWEVER, THE TOXICOLOGIST NOTED THAT ETHANOL PRODUCTION MAY HAVE OCCURRED FROM TISSUE DECOMPOSITION OR BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION. THE 2155 CDT WX AT LAWTON, OK, WAS IN PART: 300' OBSCURED, VIS 7 MI.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N22875](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N22875-1990-01-02), registration cancelled 1990-01-02, S/N 15068581 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150H
- Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15068581
- Airframe hours: 3445
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Paul M. Gould
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 1988, 62 hours before
- Departed: PWA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
- Destination: HBR, HOBART, OK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 302 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 9 knots
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: WPA, 18 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 19890503010849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890503010849A), May 3, 1989: Cessna 150H, Carnegie, OK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. No weather brief. Departed at night. Continued into area of low ceiling heavy rain. Collided with rising terrain.

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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