# NTSB NYC94LA013: Cessna C-150, N704US, Cynthiana, KY, October 23, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 1993, 01:58 local (05:58 UTC) - Place: Cynthiana, KY - Coordinates: 38.380672, -84.290214 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3807&lon=-84.2902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38703 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38703/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA013 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - light condition - dark night - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - abrupt, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N704US-1994-07-19), registration cancelled 1994-07-19, S/N 15078890 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA C-150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078890 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19931023040619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931023040619A), Oct 23, 1993: Cessna 150M, Cynthiana, KY, Destroyed. Reported drinking at local inn. Elected to joy ride. On final thought lights on ground as traffic. Aborted. Stalled. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.