NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On September 23, 1996, at 1200 eastern daylight time, N1947Z, a Cessna 150C, collided with trees near Liberty, Kentucky. The student pilot, the sole occupant was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Russellville, Kentucky, exact time unknown.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector, the pilot/owner was not endorsed by his flight instructor within the last ninety days to make solo flights. According to the FAA, several witnesses reported that the airplane was flying low over their homes before it struck trees.

One of the witnesses reported that he was outside watching the airplane, "...circling around and swooping down low, then revved the engine as he turned to climb up over the trees and hill...it came around again, swooping down low, then revving the engine to pull up over the trees... ." He stated that he heard the airplane hit a tree, then he saw the left wing damaged. The witness stated that the airplane became slow and unstable before it pitched over and struck the ground at a steep angle. The airplane descended to the ground and was destroyed by fire.

Examination of the accident site by the FAA revealed portions of the left wing tip in the wooded area. A couple of small branches with live foliage and fresh breaks were also located at the accident site. Examination of the airplane after the accident by the FAA did not disclose any pre-impact failure of the airplane or engine.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

A Medical Examination of the pilot/airplane owner was performed by Dr. Emily Craig, State Medical Examiner in Frankfort, Kentucky, on September 24, 1996. Toxicological testing was conducted by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI), in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The following results were obtained: 39.000 mg/dl Ethanol detected in Blood; No Ethanol detected in Urine; 79.000 mg/dl Ethanol detected in Muscle Fluid; 10.000 mg/dl N-Propanol detected in Blood; 1.000 mg/dl Acetaldehyde detected in Muscle Fluid. According to CAMI, the ethanol found in this case is most likely from postmortem ethanol production.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude, while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in in-flight collision with trees.