Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Liverpool, Texas 77577
Sunday, October 18, 1992 19:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT HAD BEEN RELEASED TO OVERFLY AN AIRPORT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MILES TO THE SOUTH AND RETURN FOR LANDING. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 1,000' MSL FOR THE FLIGHT. THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES BEFORE SUNSET. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TELEVISION TOWER. A WITNESS REPORTED THE AIRPLANE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON AS THE AIRPLANE FLEW OVER HIS HOUSE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE STUDENT BECAME DISORIENTED. HE REPORTED TO HIS INSTRUCTOR PILOT, OVER THE RADIO, TAHT HE COULD SEE THE TOWER. HE WAS TOLD TO FLY NORTH BY THE INSTRUCTOR, THE STUDENT RESPONDED HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY SEEING HIS INSTRUMENTS. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT INSTRUCTED HIM TO TURN ON HIS INSTRUMENT LIGHTS, THE STUDENTS RESPONSE WAS HE COULD NOT FIND THE SWITCH FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING. RADIO COMMUNICATION WAS LOST WITH THE STUDENT WHILE THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS TRYING TO DIRECT HIM TO THE SWITCH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH THE OBSTRUCTION. FACTORS WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN NIGHT OPERATIONS, AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION FROM THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/18/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1940
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City LIVERPOOL
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77577
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID HOU
Elevation of weather observation facility 47
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 13
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 100
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2850
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 18 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2040
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47694
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10736
NTSB Number FTW93FA017
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier 150L
Aircraft Serial Number 15074993
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 9 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 4535
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name W. J. BONEFAS CO. INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8802 BELCHER
Aircraft Owner City MANVEL
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77578
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name W. J. BONEFAS CO. INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 8802 BELCHER
Operator City MANVEL
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77578
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3TA1
Departure City MANVEL
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1810
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 3TA1
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --