Cessna 150L N1479Q

Summary

On 24 May 1998 at about 21:45 local time, a Cessna 150L registered N1479Q, operated by Loren R. Townsend, was involved in an accident near Sandpoint, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 May 1998 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Sandpoint, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Dave Wall Field (SZT)

Coordinates

48.3397, -116.4490

Aircraft

Cessna 150L

Registration

N1479Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Loren R. Townsend

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sandpoint → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA082

1 person was seriously injured.

Loss of consciousness by the pilot-in-command/flight instructor, resulting in loss of aircraft control and subsequent collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight took off with approximately a 30-minute to 1-hour fuel supply. After takeoff, the pilot/flight instructor and dual student (on her first instructional flight) practiced airwork for approximately 15 minutes, then returned to the airport for touch-and-go landings. The flight instructor, who held an FAA medical certificate valid for third-class privileges at the time, reported that on the third touch-and-go pattern, while downwind, he lost consciousness. The dual student stated that while the instructor (her father) was piloting and speaking to her, the aircraft suddenly started heading for trees, and that she then shouted, 'What are you doing?!', but that the instructor did not respond. A witness reported that the airplane's engine sputtered and stalled as the airplane went into a steep left bank, and that it then crashed into the trees. FAA on-scene investigators found a very small quantity of fuel on board the aircraft, and the aircraft's propeller exhibited no evidence of significant engine power at impact. Records of the pilot's treatment at a local hospital following the accident contained discharge diagnoses of 'syncope prior to accident (probably related to atrial fibrillation)' and 'atrial fibrillation/junctional tachycardia.' The pilot/instructor reported that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved in the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.