# NTSB WPR20FA067: Cessna 150, N4763X, Jacksonville, TX, January 20, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: January 20, 2020, 12:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Jacksonville, TX - Coordinates: 31.905555, -95.086669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9056&lon=-95.0867&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: North Texas FSDO, Textron Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 100830 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20FA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100830/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100830 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20FA067 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from guy wires associated with a tower while maneuvering at low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 150G, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071816), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Radar information showed that, after departing in day visual meteorological conditions, the pilot climbed the airplane to a maximum altitude of about 1,600 ft mean sea level (msl) before entering a gradual descent. The last radar return showed the airplane at a speed of 92 knots and altitude about 900 ft msl. The wreckage was found in the vicinity of a 1,586-ft-tall television tower, and its distribution was consistent with the left wing contacting one of the tower’s guy wires, resulting in a separation of the outboard section of the left wing. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain in a nose-down, near vertical attitude and was destroyed by impact. Examination revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane or engine. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tower guy wires while flying at low altitude. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 20, 2020, about 1220 central standard time, a Cessna 150G airplane, N4763X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Jacksonville, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from JSO at 1200. Radar information revealed that the pilot departed Cherokee County Airport (JSO), Jacksonville, Texas, about 1200 and proceeded approximately north-northeast, reaching a peak altitude of about 1,600 ft mean sea level (msl). The airplane then turned southeast and entered a gradual descent as it flew roughly parallel to a state highway. The last radar information about 1220 showed the airplane at 899 ft msl at a groundspeed of 92 knots. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot’s most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third-class medical certificate was issued on January 12, 2010. On the application for that certificate, the pilot reported 2,459 total hours of flight experience. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the accident site indicated that the airplane impacted a set of guy wires secured to the top of a 1,586-ft-tall television tower, located about 1,100 ft east of the wreckage. About 5 ft of the outboard section of the airplane's left wing was located about 468 ft south of the tower. Additionally, impact marks and stripped paint found on the separated wing piece were consistent with impact with a wire. With the exception of the outboard section of the left wing and the portion of the right fuel tank, the entire wreckage was located within about a 50-ft radius of the main wreckage site. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose-down, near vertical attitude and was destroyed by impact. Flight control continuity was established from the empennage to fuselage station (FS) 57 and from the aileron and flap bellcranks to the wing root. The cabin area was destroyed. The propeller remained attached to the engine. One blade was bent aft at the root: the other exhibited S-bending. Both blades displayed leading edge polishing and chordwise scratching. The engine was embedded in the ground and displayed significant impact damage. The crankshaft could not be rotated, but cylinder Nos. 2 and 4 were examined with a lighted borescope and displayed no anomalies. The location of the pistons of cylinder Nos. 1 and 3 precluded borescope examination; however, the rocker covers were removed, and no anomalies were noted. The right magneto was impact damaged; the left magneto was rotated by hand and produced spark at each of its terminal leads. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4763X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4763X-2021-03-06), registration cancelled 2021-03-06, S/N 15064813, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150 (G) - Registry model: [Cessna 150G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150g) (registry code 2071816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15064813 - Year built: 1966 - Engines: Continental O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KJSO, Jacksonville, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,459 total, 9,999 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 49 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KSJO, 7 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 20200120010309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200120010309A), Jan 20, 2020: Cessna 150G, Jacksonville, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On January 20, 2020 at approximately 1200 CST, N4763X, a Cessna 150G, crashed 7 miles east of Jacksonville, TX airport (jso) with only the pilot onboard. The… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100830. 11.9 MB in all. - Sun angle at 1220 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 296 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13797427&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Sun%20Angle-Rel.pdf - Flight track (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187739&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Track%20Data-Rel.pdf - Tabular track data (item 3, CSV, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13186785&FileExtension=csv&FileName=WPR20FA067%20-%20Tabular%20Track%20Data-Rel.csv - Ov playback (item 4, MP4, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187948&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=N4763X%20-%20OV%20Playback%20-%2010X%20(1)-Rel.mp4 - Ov track data (item 5, CSV, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187720&FileExtension=csv&FileName=N4763X%20-%20OV%20Track%20Data-Rel.csv - Wreckage on google earth (item 6, KMZ, 765 B): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187997&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=Airplane%20wreckage-Rel.kmz - Accident site, airframe and engine exam (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13188076&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ACCIDENT%20SITE,%20AIRFRAME%20AND%20ENGINE%20EXAM-Rel.pdf - Textron exam report (item 8, PDF, 10 pages, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tech%20Report%2015064813_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Fuel at jso (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187987&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20at%20Cherokee%20County%20(KJSO)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Fuel transaction (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13188189&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N4763X%20Fuel%20Transaction-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 11, PDF, 1 page, 388 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13189935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (Textron) (item 12, PDF, 1 page, 539 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13248388&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Textron%20party%20form_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.