- Date
- October 23, 1993, 01:58 local (05:58 UTC)
- Place
- Cynthiana, KY
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N704USCessna C-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931023040619A
- Case key
- 38703
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's abrupt control of the airplane on short final to the runway, with the flaps retracted, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and the subsequent collision with the trees. A factor in this accident was the poor judgement of the student pilot to go flying within 8 hours of consuming alcohol, at night, with a passenger.
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.
Analysis
The student pilot and passenger were drinking at a local inn. The pilot invited the passenger to go flying in the pilot's leased airplane. The pilot and passenger took off from the local airport. The flight was on final approach to the runway about 0200, when the pilot thought another airplane was approaching from the opposite direction. She turned the airplane to the right, where the airplane descended and collided with trees. Investigation revealed that the flaps were fully retracted. It was not determined if the pilot was signed off for night flight. Witnesses indicated that the pilot appeared impaired. The student pilot refused blood testing requested by the police.
Factual narrative
On Saturday, October 23, 1993, about 0158 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150, N704US, piloted by Philip Habermehl, was destroyed when it struck trees during a balked landing to the Cynthiana Airport, Cynthiana, Kentucky. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91.
According to the Cynthiana Police Report, the student pilot and the passenger were drinking at a local Inn when the pilot asked the passenger if he wanted to "take a plane ride."
Several area residents reported to the police hearing an airplane that evening, between 2230 and 0130. The police report stated, "...he was coming in for a landing, fog was moving in low, visibility poor and lights were very faint on landing strip. Philip [the student pilot] saw some light over the hill and thought it was another plane so he made a right hand turn to avoid a head on collision. The plane stalled, then bounced...into some trees."
The airplane struck trees about 1/8 of a mile south of the runway, and came to rest on a highway. The police asked Mr. Habermehl for a blood test and he refused. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's report stated, "...Unknown if the airman was ever signed off for night flight...Witnesses indicated that the student pilot appeared impaired..."
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the flaps were in the up position.
During the investigation Mr. Philip P. Habermehl failed to respond to two requests for information. Mr. Michael R. Habermehl, the co-leaser, and Mr. Terry L. Nitz the airplane owner, also failed to respond to requests for information.
End of report
Aircraft
- Registration
- N704US
- Reported as
- Cessna C-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15078890
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Michael R. Havermehl
- Registered owner
- Terry L. Nitz
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Airport
- 0I8 · Cynthiana-Harrison Co., runway 29, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 70 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LEX, 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.