Cessna 150 N17043

Summary

On 23 July 2023 at about 03:24 local time, a Cessna 150 registered N17043 was involved in an accident near Houston, Texas, 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

23 July 2023 at 03:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Houston, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

West Houston Airport (IWS)

Coordinates

29.8168, -95.6644

Aircraft

Cessna 150

Registration

N17043

Category

Airplane

Year built

1972

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN23FA315

1 person died.

The student pilot’s loss of airplane control in dark night conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot departed in dark night visual meteorological conditions to complete takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern. Surveillance video footage indicated that about two minutes after takeoff, while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, the airplane entered a rapid descent and collided with powerlines. There was no radar information or ADS-B flight track data associated with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The firewall fuel strainer contained a significant amount of debris consistent with aluminum wear particles from the fuel system as well as dirt/soil present in the fuel system. About 0.6 gallons of fuel was drained from the right wing fuel tank; the left wing fuel tank was empty. There was evidence of fuel spillage at the accident site. The engine’s original oil screen had not been removed when a spin-on oil filter adapter modification was installed, and the oil screen and housing contained a significant amount of carbon deposits and oil sludge; however, there was no metallic debris or contaminants in the oil filter. The propeller blades exhibited leading edge damage, chordwise scratches, and polishing, consistent with the engine operating at the time of impact. It is likely that the debris in the fuel system and oil system were the result of inadequate maintenance and did not contribute to the accident. The pilot obtained a student pilot certificate about 14 years before the accident, at which time he reported 120 total hours of flight experience; however, no pilot logbook was available for review, and the pilot’s total experience, night experience, and recency of experience at the time of the accident could not be determined. The pilot’s headlamp was found in the cockpit area. The headlamp was found on and set to the brightest white setting. The headlamp did not have a red lens or setting for night operations. It is possible that the pilot was using the light during the flight, which could have impaired his night vision. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s loss of control while maneuvering in dark night visual meteorological conditions. The airplane’s rapid descent to ground contact from a relatively level attitude could be consistent with a visual illusion or spatial disorientation; however, given the lack of flight track information, the circumstances of the loss of control could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.