Pilot Debrief

Cessna 150 near Jacksonville, TX — 2020-01-20

Final reportWPR20FA067
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Date
2020-01-20
Location
Jacksonville, TX, USA
Aircraft
Cessna 150
Registration
N4763X
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from guy wires associated with a tower while maneuvering at low altitude.

NTSB narrative

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.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided flying near the television tower.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

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