Cessna 150 N6559F

Summary

On 16 February 1992 at about 08:15 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N6559F, operated by Robert M. Lipani, was involved in an accident near White Lake, New York, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 February 1992 at 08:15

Classification

Accident

Location

White Lake, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Sullivan County Intl (MSV)

Coordinates

41.6400, -74.8602

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N6559F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert M. Lipani

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sussex → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC92FA062

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND HIS IMPAIRMENT OF JUDGEMENT DUE TO DRUGS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT, THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT FLYING EXPERIENCE, AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS FLYING ABILITY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A WITNESS ON DUTY AT THE AIRPORT HEARD AN AIRPLANE CIRCLING VERY LOW OVERHEAD; IT MADE SEVERAL CIRCLES & THEN THE SOUND CEASED. SHE SAID THE WEATHER WAS 'VERY, VERY FOGGY', AND HEARD SEVERAL 'CLICKS' SIMILAR TO THE ACTIVATION OF AN AIRPLANE MICROPHONE. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 2/19 APRX 300 FT NORTH OF THE APPROACH END OF RWY 33. THE PILOT'S 'MEMO' BOOK SHOWED THAT HE HAD PRACTICED LORAN APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT'S CFI ENDORSEMENT FOR SOLO FLIGHT HAD EXPIRED 3/19/90. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN EARLIER IMPOUNDED & CHAINED BY A FEDERAL MARSHALL AS A RESULT OF AN INCIDENT WHEREIN THE PILOT HAD LANDED AT THE AIRPORT TWICE DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS WITHOUT A CLEARANCE FROM THE CONTROL TOWER OR ANY OTHER RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS DETECTED COCAINE IN THE URINE, AND BENZOYLECGONINE IN THE URINE (43.300 UG/ML), BLOOD (0.390 UG/ML), LIVER (0.394 UG/ML) AND KIDNEY (0.207 UG/ML).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.