Cessna 150G N2952J

Summary

On 26 March 1998 at about 00:15 local time, a Cessna 150G registered N2952J was involved in an accident near Sonoma, California, 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

26 March 1998 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Sonoma, California, United States

Nearest airport

Sonoma Sky Park (0Q9)

Coordinates

38.2402, -122.4603

Aircraft

Cessna 150G

Registration

N2952J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98LA125

1 person was seriously injured.

The instructor pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision and subsequent inadequate supervision of the situation to simulate an engine failure on takeoff, as well as both pilot's not maintaining a visual lookout. A related factor was the diverted attention of both the instructor and student pilot's.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The instructor pilot and student pilot were preparing for the student pilot's private pilot check ride. Both pilot's remember practicing maneuvers for 40 minutes before returning to the airport to practice soft and short field takeoff's and landings. On the landing preceding the accident takeoff the instructor simulated an engine failure and the student landed without any difficulty. On the accident takeoff the student pilot raised the flaps and the instructor simultaneously leaned the mixture to simulate a power loss. The instructor took over on the controls when the student did not recognize the situation. He attempted a restart of the engine, while the student flew the aircraft to an open field. While attempting to restart the engine the instructor observed a power line and instructed the student to fly underneath the power line. Both pilot's stated that on the last attempt to restart the engine, it started. They both looked up and saw power lines and attempted to maneuver the aircraft underneath the power lines. The student pilot stated that his instructor did not indicate to him that he was going to simulate an engine failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.