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CEN14FA265

NTSB Identification: CEN14FA265

14CFRPart91:GeneralAviation
AccidentoccurredSaturday,May31,2014inWatkins,CO
ProbableCauseApprovalDate:01/27/2015
Aircraft:CESSNA150,registration:N6275G
Injuries:2Fatal.
NTSBinvestigatorseithertraveledinsupportofthisinvestigationorconductedasignificantamountofinvestigativeworkwithoutanytravel,anduseddataobtainedfrom
varioussourcestopreparethisaircraftaccidentreport.
Theairplanedepartedonthelocalnightflightininstrumentflightrulesconditionswith7milesvisibilityandovercastcloudsat300ftabovegroundlevel(agl).Radar
datashowedthattheairplanedepartedtherunway,madeoneflightaroundthetrafficpattern,andlanded6minuteslater.Theairplanedepartedagaintothewest,did
notremaininthetrafficpattern,andreachedanaltitudeof740ftagl.Theairplanemadealeftturn,whichtightenedastheairplanedescendedabout1,900ftperminute.
Theairplaneimpactedafieldandbouncedonetimebeforeitcametorestupright.
Anonboardrecordingdevice(GoPro)wasfoundnearthewreckageandthefileswererecovered.Basedontheavailableinformation,itislikelythattheGoProfileswere
recordedonMay30andMay31,2014,withthefinalGoProfilerecordedduringthe6minuteflightinthetrafficpattern.Theaccidentflightwasnotrecorded.TheGoPro
recordingsrevealedthatthepilotandvariouspassengersweretakingselfphotographswiththeircellphonesand,duringthenightflight,usingthecamerasflash
functionduringthetakeoffroll,initialclimb,andflightinthetrafficpattern.
Apostaccidentexaminationoftheairplanedidnotrevealanypreimpactanomaliesthatwouldhaveprecludednormaloperation.Basedonthewreckagedistribution,
whichwasconsistentwithahighspeedimpact,andthedegradedvisualreferenceconditions,itislikelythatthepilotexperiencedspatialdisorientationandlostcontrol
oftheairplane.Theevidenceisconsistentwithanaerodynamicstallandsubsequentspinintoterrain.Basedontheevidenceofcellphoneuseduringlowaltitude
maneuvering,includingtheflightimmediatelybeforetheaccidentflight,itislikelythatcellphoneuseduringtheaccidentflightdistractedthepilotandcontributedtothe
developmentofspatialdisorientationandsubsequentlossofcontrol.Areviewofthepilotslogbooksdidnotshowthathemetthecurrencyrequirementsforflightin
instrumentmeteorologicalconditionsornightflightwithpassengers.

TheNationalTransportationSafetyBoarddeterminestheprobablecause(s)ofthisaccidentasfollows:
Thepilotslossofcontrolandsubsequentaerodynamicstallduetospatialdisorientationinnightinstrumentmeteorologicalconditions.Contributingtothe
accidentwasthepilotsdistractionduetohiscellphoneusewhilemaneuveringatlowaltitude.

Fullnarrativeavailable
AviationAccident&SynopsisQueryPage
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CEN14FA265:FullNarrative

NTSB Identification: CEN14FA265

HISTORYOFFLIGHT
OnMay31,2014,at0022mountaindaylighttime,aCessna150Kairplane,N6275G,impactedterrain2mileswestoftheFrontRangeAirport(FTG),nearWatkins,
Colorado.Theinstrumentratedpilotandonepassengerwerefatallyinjured.Theairplanesustainedsubstantialdamage.Theairplanewasregisteredtoandoperated
byaprivateindividualundertheprovisionsof14CodeofFederalRegulationsPart91asapersonalflight.Nightinstrumentmeteorologicalconditions(IMC)prevailed
fortheflight,whichdidnotoperateonaflightplan.ThelocalflightoriginatedfromFTGat0018.
Theairplanewasreportedmissingabout0330.FrontRangeAirportpersonnellocatedthewreckageabout0730inawheatfieldabout2mileswestnorthwestofthe
airport.Therewerenowitnessestotheaccident.ThepilotwasnotincontactwithAirTrafficControl(ATC),buttheflightpathwascapturedonradar.Theairplane
impactedthefieldwiththeleftwingfirst,bouncedonetimeandcametorestupright.Anonboardimagerecorder(GoPro)wasfoundinthewreckageanditsdatacard
wasreviewedbytheNationalTransportationSafetyBoard(NTSB)VehicleRecordersLaboratory.Thevideorevealedthatthecamerarecordedtheeventspriortothe
accidenthowever,theaccidentsequencewasnotrecorded.
PERSONNELINFORMATION
Thepilot,age29,heldacommercialpilotcertificatewithratingsforsingleengineland,multienginelandandinstrumentairplane.Thepilotalsoheldagroundinstructor
certificate.ThepilotwasissuedanunrestrictedfirstclassmedicalcertificateonAugust29,2013.
Areviewofthepilot'slogbooksrevealedthathehadaccumulatedabout726totalflighthours,38hoursinthelast30daysand4.5hoursinthe24hoursprecedingthe
accidentflight.Hehad27.1hoursinnightconditionsand0.5hoursinsimulatedIMCinthelast60days.Heaccumulatedatotalof99hoursinsimulatedIMCand14.7
hoursinactualIMC.ThelogbooksdidnotrevealwhetherornothehadcompletedtheflightcurrencyrequirementstooperateinIMCortocarrypassengersatnight(see
ADDITIONALINFORMATION14CFRPart61.57(c)Instrumentexperience14CFRPart61.57(b)Nighttakeoffandlandingexperience).
AIRCRAFTINFORMATION
TheCessna150K,serialnumber15071775,wasasingleengine,twoseat,highwing,fixedgear,utilitycategoryairplane,whichwasmanufacturedin1970.The
airplanewaspoweredbya100horsepowerContinentalMotors,Inc.O200Aengine,whichdroveatwobladedmetalMcCauleypropeller.Themostrecentannual
inspectionwascompletedonMarch4,2014atatotalaircrafttimeof7,030.6hoursandwasdeterminedtobeinairworthycondition.
METEOROLOGICALINFORMATION
OnMay30,2014,at2359,aspecialsurfaceweatherobservationfromtheDenverInternationalAirport(DEN),whichwaslocated5milesnorthwestoftheaccidentsite,
reported:windcalm,2milesvisibility,mist,ceilingovercastat300feet,temperature55Fahrenheit(F),dewpoint54F,andaltimetersetting30.19inchesofmercury.
OnMay31,2014at0027,anotherspecialsurfaceweatherobservationwasissuedforDEN:windfrom160degreesat3knots,6milesvisibility,mist,scatteredcloudsat
200feet,brokencloudsat500feet,temperature55degreesF,dewpoint54degreesF,andaltimetersetting30.19inchesofmercury.
FLIGHTRECORDERINFORMATION
TheundamagedGoProcamerawasfoundinthewreckageandthedatacardwasreviewedbytheNationalTransportationSafetyBoard(NTSB)VehicleRecorders
Laboratory.Thevideorecordingsrevealedthatthecamerawasmountedintheairplaneabovetheinstrumentpanel.TheGoProwasinfrontofthepilot,facedtoward
therearoftheairplaneandcapturedthefrontseatoccupantsaswellasaviewoutoftheleftandrightwindowsandportionsoftherearwindow.Thetimeanddate
stampsontherecordingswereunreliable,butthefilesappeartobefromthedaypriorandthedayoftheaccident.TheGoProrecordedtheeventspriortotheaccident
however,theaccidentsequencewasnotrecorded.Thedatacardcontained7totalvideofileswhicharesummarizedbelow.
RADARINFORMATION
RadardatawhichrecordedflighttrackinformationfortheaccidentflightrevealedthattheairplanedepartedFTGat0004,madeoneflightaroundthetrafficpatternand
landedonrunway26at0010.Duringtheflight,theairplanereachedanaltitudeofabout900abovegroundlevel(agl).At0018:56theairplaneagaindepartedrunway
26andbegantodrifttotheleftoftherunwaycenterline.At0020:06theairplaneturnedrighttothenorthwest,ascendedat300feetperminuteandreachedanaltitudeof
about640feetagl.Theairplanebeganaleftturnandreachedanaltitudeofabout740feetagl.At0021:24,theleftturntightenedandtheairplanedescendedabout
1,900feetperminute.Thelastradarpointwasrecordedat0021:43,about140feetagl.Themainwreckagewaslocatedinsidetheradarpointswhichcompletedthe
descendingleftturn.
Duringtheflights,theairplane'sdistancefromtherunwayvariedbetween0.44milesand1.66milesaway.
WRECKAGEANDIMPACTINFORMATION
OnJune1,2014,theNTSBinvestigatorincharge,aFederalAviationAdministration(FAA)inspector,andinvestigatorsfromCessnaAircraftandContinentalMotors,
examinedthewreckage.
Theaccidentsitewaslocatedinawheatfieldabout2mileswestnorthwestofthedepartureendofrunway26atFTG,atanelevationof5,423feetmeansealevel.
Theairplaneimpactedwiththeleftwingfirstfollowedbytheleftmainlandinggear,thepropeller,andthentherightwingonaheadingof195degrees.Piecesofred
glass,consistentwithafragmentedpositionlightlens,werefoundontheoutboardsectionoftheinitialleftwingimpactpoint.Piecesofgreenglass,alsoconsistentwith
afragmentedpositionlightlens,werefoundneartheoutboardsectionoftherightwingimpactpoint.Therewasapropellerslashmarkinthegroundnearthecenter
impactcrater.Asecondimpactareawasobserved26yardsawayonaheadingof250degrees.Themainwreckagewasfoundonthe250degreeheadingabout16
yardsawaywhereitcametorest.Thenoseoftheairplanewaspositionedonaheadingon205degrees.Airplanedebriswasfoundinthewreckagepathfromtheinitial
impactpointtothemainwreckage.
Allmajorcomponentsoftheairplanewerefoundattheaccidentsite.Therightwingseparatedfromthefuselageatthewingrootandwasontopoftheleftwing.Theleft
wingwasfoldedunderthefuselageandwasinverted.Allflightcontrolsremainedattachedtotheirrespectivemounts.A1footsectionoftheoutboardendoftheleft
aileronwasdetachedandwasneartheinitialimpactpoint.Theflapswereretracted.Theelevators,rudder,andaileronsmovedfreelythroughtheirrespectiverangesof

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travel.Theleftaileroncontrolcablewascontinuousfromtheyoketotherespectivebellcrank.Therightaileronactuationcableseparatedintensionoverloadattheright
wingroot.Theaileroncarrythroughcablewasseparatedintensionoverloadattherightwingroot.Theelevatorandruddercableswerecontinuousfromthecontrol
yokeandtherudderpedalstotherespectivecontrolsurfaces.Theelevatortrimsettingwasnearneutral.Thetrimwheelchainwasoffthetrimwheelinthecockpit.The
fueltankscontainedseveralgallonsoffuel.Neitherfueltankwasbreachedduringtheaccidentsequence.Thefuelcapswereinplaceandthechainlanyardswere
attachedtothecaps.ThefuelselectorvalvewasinanintermediatepositionbetweenOFFandON.Thefuelstrainerbowlwasfracturedandthescreencontained
minimaldebris.Therightmainlandinggearremainedattachedtotheairframe.Theleftmainlandinggearandthenoselandinggearseparatedandexhibitedimpact
damage.Thepitottubewasintactandremainedattachedtotheleftwing.Theleftseatseparatedfromtheseatrailsandwasoutsidethefuselage.Therightseat
remainedattachedtotheseatrails.Thelapbeltsremainedlatchedandseparatedfromthefuselage.Theonlyseatbeltthatremainedattachedtothefuselagewasthe
rightseatsoutboardbeltsection.Theaftfuselageseparatedfromtheforwardfuselageattheaftcabinarea.Thetailconewasbentandtwistedtotheleft.The
emergencylocatortransmitter(ELT)wasfoundinthearmedpositionandremainedattachedtotheantenna.NoreportsofELTtransmissionswerereported.The
tachometerread7,062.85hours.
Thecrankshaftdisplayedcracksconsistentwithimpactdamage.Ahandtoolwasusedtorotatethepropellerflange.Continuitywasestablishedbetweenthecrankshaft,
camshaftandassociateddrivetraincomponents.Thetopsparkplugswereremovedandallfourcylindersproducedcompressionandsuctionwhenthecrankshaftwas
rotatedbyhand.Allfourcylinderswereexaminedusingaborescopeandeachdisplayednormaloperatingsignatures.Thebottomsparkplugswereremovedandeach
displayednormaloperatingsignatures.Bothmagnetoswereactuatedwhenthecrankshaftwasrotatedbyhandandalloftheterminalsproducedaspark.Theoilsump
wasimpactdamagedandbreached.Theoilfilterwasremovedfromtheengineandcutopennometalcontaminantswerefoundinside.Thecarburetorbrokefreefrom
theintakesystemandsustainedimpactdamage.Themixturecontrolarmbrokefreefromthecarburetorandthethrottlecontrolcablerodendsbrokefreefromtherestof
thecontrolcable.Thethrottlemovedfreelywhenactuatedbyhand.Thecarburetorwasdisassembled.Thefuelinletscreenwasfreeofcontaminantsandallinternal
componentsdisplayednormaloperatingsignatures.Thevacuumpumpbrokefreefromtheengineandaportionofthecrankcaseremainedattachedtoit.Thevacuum
pumpdriveshaftwasintact.Theshaftwasrotatedandexhibitedsomeresistance,butwasabletoberotatedbyhandandpumpedresidualoil.Thevacuumpumpwas
disassembledandrevealednormaloperatingsignatures.
Thepropellerremainedattachedtothepropellerflange.Thefirstbladewasmostlystraightwithminortwistingdeformation.Thesecondblade,whichwasbentaftand
underthewreckage,displayedtwistingdeformationandthecamberedsidedisplayedpolishing.
MEDICALANDPATHOLOGICALINFORMATION
AnautopsywasperformedonthepilotattheAdamsCountyCoroner'sOffice,Brighton,Colorado,onJune2,2014.Thecauseofdeathwasmultiplefracturesand
internalinjuriesduetoblunttraumaandthemannerofdeathwaslistedasanaccident.TheFAACivilAerospaceMedicalInstitutecompletedaFinalForensic
ToxicologyFatalAccidentReport,whichwasnegativeandnotestedfordrugsweredetected.
ADDITIONALINFORMATION
14CFRPart91.155BasicVFRWeatherMinimums
Theregulationstates,"Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(b)ofthissectionandSec.91.157,nopersonmayoperateanaircraftunderVFRwhentheflightvisibilityisless,
oratadistancefromcloudsthatisless,thatthatprescribedforthecorrespondingaltitudeandclassofairspace."
(b)ClassGAirspace.Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofparagraph(a)ofthissection,thefollowingoperationsmaybeconductedinClassGairspacebelow1,200feet
abovethesurface:
(2)Airplane,poweredparachute,orweightshiftcontrolaircraft..Ifthevisibilityislessthan3statutemilesbutnotlessthan1statutemileduringnighthoursandyouare
operatinginanairporttrafficpatternwithinonehalfmileoftherunway,youmayoperateanairplane,poweredparachute,orweightshiftcontrolaircraftclearofclouds.
ClassGdistancefromcloudnightminimumswerelistedas:3statutemilesvisibility,500feetbelow,1,000feetabove,and2,000feethorizontal.
14CFRPart61.57Recentflightexperience:Pilotincommand
(b)Nighttakeoffandlandingexperience.(1)Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(e)ofthissection,nopersonmayactaspilotincommandofanaircraftcarrying
passengersduringtheperiodbeginning1houraftersunsetandending1hourbeforesunrise,unlesswithinthepreceding90daysthatpersonhasmadeatleastthree
takeoffsandthreelandingstoafullstopduringtheperiodbeginning1houraftersunsetandending1hourbeforesunrise,and
(i)Thatpersonactedassolemanipulatoroftheflightcontrolsand
(ii)Therequiredtakeoffsandlandingswereperformedinanaircraftofthesamecategory,class,andtype(ifatyperatingisrequired).
(c)Instrumentexperience.Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(e)ofthissection,apersonmayactaspilotincommandunderIFRorweatherconditionslessthanthe
minimumsprescribedforVFRonlyif:
(1)Useofanairplane,poweredlift,helicopter,orairshipformaintaininginstrumentexperience.Withinthe6calendarmonthsprecedingthemonthoftheflight,that
personperformedandloggedatleastthefollowingtasksanditerationsinanairplane,poweredlift,helicopter,orairship,asappropriate,fortheinstrumentrating
privilegestobemaintainedinactualweatherconditions,orundersimulatedconditionsusingaviewlimitingdevicethatinvolveshavingperformedthefollowing
(i)Sixinstrumentapproaches.
(ii)Holdingproceduresandtasks.
(iii)Interceptingandtrackingcoursesthroughtheuseofnavigationalelectronicsystems.
TETSANDRESEARCH
OnboardImageRecorder(GoPro)Summary
GOPR0016.MP4Daylight
PilotandPassenger#1adjustandfastentheirseatbelts.Thepilotmadesomekeyboardentriestohiscellphoneandreachedtothebackcompartmentoftheairplane
tograbanotepad.Recordingends.
GOPR0017.MP4Daylight
TaxiingwithPassenger#1fromthepreviousfile.Theairplanetaxiedtowardanunknownrunwayviamultipletaxiways.Thepilotmaderadiocallsandattimes,
adjustmentstodevicesinthevicinityoftheinstrumentpanel.ThepilotandPassenger#1spokeinalanguageotherthanEnglish.Thepilotappearedtoperforman
enginerunupduringthetaxi.Later,theATCcontrolleraskedthepilotifhewantedtodoarunup.Thepilot'sresponseismuffledbytheenginenoiseontheaudiotrack
andhisactionsareconsistentwiththepilotindicatingthathesaidhehadalreadycompletedit.Thevideorecordingendsbeforethepilotreachestherunway.
GOPR0018.MP4Daylight
Videostartsattakeoffroll.ThepassengerisstillPassenger#1fromthepreviousvideofiles.Theairplanetookoffanditappearedthatthepilotflewalargerightpattern
fortheactiverunway.Thepilottookafewselfphotographsusingthecellphone,onbasenearfinalandpossiblyalsoonfinal.Thepilot'scellphonescreenisseenin

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cameramode.Passenger#1wasalsotakingselfphotographsandforwardfacingphotographswithhisowncellphoneforaboutthelasttwominutesofvideo.Thepilot
madeanuneventfullanding.Passenger#1appearedtobeginrecordingashortvideo.ThepilotclearedtherunwayandreceivedtaxiinstructionsfromATCandthe
videoends.
GOPR0019.MP4Daylight
Thevideobegannearthehangararea.Anewpassenger(Passenger#2)isseeninthecockpitwiththepilot.Thepilotdidnotappeartodoapretakeoffcheckinthe
timecapturedbythevideorecording.Thepilottaxiedtotherunwayandisclearedfortakeoff.Thepilotmadeanuneventfultakeoff.Passenger#2followsthepilot'sflight
controlmanipulationsonthecontrolyokeforthedurationoftheflightbutitappearedthatPassenger#2wasnotactivelymanipulatingthecontrols.Thepilotmadesome
slightnegativeGcontrolmovementsandPassenger#2wasentertained.Thepilottooksomeselfphotographsonwhatappearstobethedownwindleg.Thepilotmade
anuneventfullanding,taxiedbacktothehangarareaandpicksupanewpassenger(Passenger#3)withoutshuttingdowntheengine.Passenger#3fastenedtheir
seatbeltandputonaheadset.Passenger#3usedhiscellphonetotakemultipleselfphotographsduringtaxi.Thepilotlistenedtothetailendoftheairport'sautomatic
weatherrecording"InformationLima"andthenmadeaninputtoadeviceneartheinstrumentpanel.Thepilotappearedtomakesomekeyboardentriesonhiscell
phoneduringtaxi.Theuseofachecklistorpreflightcheckwasnotseenintherecording.TheairplanetookoffwhilePassenger#3appearedtoberecordingavideo
usinghiscellphone.ThepilotmovedPassenger#3'scellphoneoutofhislineofsightatonepoint.Later,thepilotcanbeseentakingselfphotographsduringtheclimb
outportionoftheflight.Passenger#3isusinghiscellphonetotakemoreselfphotographsduringtheflight.Thevideosegmentedtonewchapterrecording(nextfile,
GP010019.MP4)astheairplaneturnedtocrosswindleg.
GP010019.MP4,ContinuationofGP010019.MP4Daylight
Passenger#3continuedtousehiscellphonetotakeselfphotographsandwhatappearedtobeavideorecording.Thepilotcanbeseenmakingkeyboardentriesto
hiscellphoneduringportionsoftheflight.ThepilotconductssomemildandslightnegativeGmanipulationsofthecontrolyoke.Theairplanelandeduneventfullyand
thepilottaxiedbacktothehangararea,Passenger#3continuedtousehiscellphonetotakeselfphotographs.Thepilot'sassociatesandpreviouspassengerswalked
totheairplanetogreetPassenger#3.Thegroupusedtheircellphonestotakephotos.Passenger#4enteredthecockpitandthevideorecordingended.
GOPR0020.MP4Daylight
TherecordingbeganasthepilotandPassenger#4appearedtobebacktaxiingtoarunway.ThepilotwasclearedfortakeoffonRunway08andinstructedtomake
rightclosedtraffic.Thepilotperformedanuneventfultakeoff.Duringtheclimboutphase,thepilotwasseenmakingkeyboardentriestohiscellphoneandadditional
keyboardentriesonaportionofflightconsistentwiththedownwindleg.Duringthattime,thepilotmadethreedistinctandseparateinteractionswithhiscellphone.The
pilotperformedsomesmallwingrocksduringthedownwindleg.Passenger#4isseentakingselfphotographsandvideosthroughoutthelandingportionoftheflight.
Thepilottaxiedbacktothehangarareaandshutdowntheengineontheramp.AlanguageotherthanEnglishisheard.Thevideofileended.
GOPR0021.MP4Night
Videorecordingbeganatthehangararea.Anewpassenger,Passenger#5wasinthecockpitwiththepilot.Thepilot'sassociateswereseenstandingnearthehangar
behindtheairplane.Asoundsimilartothepilotpumpingtheairplane'sfuelprimerisheard.Thepilotstartedtheengine.ThefollowingATISrecordingwasheard
throughtheGoPro'sinternalmicrophone:
DenverFrontRangeAirportautomatedweatherobservationzerosixzerofive(0605)Zulu:weatherwindcalm,visibility[seven],ceilingthreehundred(300)overcast,
temperatureonefour(14)Celsiusdewpointonethree(13)altimeterthreezerotwozero(30.20).
Thepilottaxiedtoarunway.Itappearedthatthepilotconductedanenginerunupduringthetaxi.Thepilotwasseencheckingforfreedomofcontrolmovementinthe
controlyokeduringtaxi.Thepilotbeganthetakeoffrollanddepartedtherunway.Duringtheclimboutportionofflight,thepilotuseshiscellphonetotakeaself
photograph.Thecamera'sflashwasactivatedandilluminatedthecockpitarea.Thepilot'scellphoneappearedtobeonauserscreenconsistentwithacamera
application.Thepilotlandedandcanbeseenusinghiscellphoneduringthelandingrollout.Therecordingappearedtohaveendednormally.
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