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November 6, 1993 · Cessna 152 · N4674L

Van Horn, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 6, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Van Horn, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 152
Tail Number
N4674L
Operator
Basin Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW94FA025

ON THE FOURTH FLIGHT OF THE DAY, THE 99 HOUR STUDENT PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE PERFORMING LOW LEVEL AEROBATIC MANEUVERS WHILE CARRYING A PASSENGER. THE PILOT'S STUDENT PILOT PRIVILEGES HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY SUSPENDED FOR ONE YEAR FOR PERFORMING AEROBATICS AND BUZZING PEOPLE NEAR A LAKE WHILE CARRYING A PASSENGER.

NTSB Probable Cause

WAS THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO PERFORM AEROBATICS AT LOW ALTITUDE AND THE INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S OSTENTATIOUS DISPLAY.

Full Narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 6, 1993, at 1715 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N4674L, was destroyed on impact with terrain while maneuvering near Van Horn, Texas. The student pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the personal flight. According to the operator, the 99 hour student pilot received a 90 day solo endorsement on the afternoon prior to the accident, and he was endorsed to conduct a day VFR solo cross country the next morning. Sometime after dark, the pilot returned to the airport and elected to fly to Van Horn, Texas, where he landed at approximately 2130, and spent the night. According to friends and relatives near the accident site, the student pilot invited several friends and relatives to come out to the airport for a ride in his rented airplane. Four flights were completed prior to the accident. The airplane was observed departing the Culberson County Airport, near Van Horn, Texas, and proceed under two sets of powerlines, prior to buzzing a house while approximately 20 feet above the ground. Witnesses further stated that after buzzing the house, the airplane initiated a very steep climb, followed by the nose of the airplane dropping to the near vertical attitude until contact was made with the ground. According to one of the passengers that went for a ride prior to the accident, the pilot had stated "that he was qualified to fly just about anything with wings," and never told anyone that he was a student pilot. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The student pilot made his first dual flight on December 11, 1991. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the student pilot had his student pilot privileges revoked on January 24, 1992, for a period of one year following a flight on December 27, 1991, in which he was observed performing acrobatic maneuvers within 20 feet of persons near a lake. The emergency revocation order also stated that the pilot was carrying an unauthorized passenger, and his logbook was not endorsed for solo flight. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The ground scar was 75 feet long on a measured heading of 180 degrees. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position on a measured heading of 350 degrees. Three ground scars were found at the initial point of impact. Two gouges contained fiberglass fragments from the wheel pants of the two main landing gears. The push-pull rod for the nose wheel steering was found in the center gouge. Paint chips and transfers from the aft lower section of the empennage were also found at another ground scar located near the initial point of impact. The propeller assembly was found sheared at the propeller flange. Both blades exhibited "S" type bending and striations. Flight control continuity was established to all flight controls. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy and toxicological tests were ordered and performed on the pilot. The autopsy was performed by Juan U. Contin, M.D, on November 7, 1993, at El Paso, Texas, at the request of Mr. Oscar Espinoza, Justice of the Peace for Culberson County. Toxicology tests were positive for a low dose of Marihuana, and a small dose of Ethanol in the urine. The Acetaminophen (Tylenol) detected in the blood and urine was insignificant. ADDITIONAL DATA The wreckage was released to the owner's representative on November 8, 1993, at the accident site following the completion of the field investigation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:15 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 152
Tail NumberN4674L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorBasin Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235-L2C · Reciprocating · 118
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 32 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind160° @ 4 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time23:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data