Accident Overview
On June 23, 2009, at 0953 central daylight time, a Cessna 150G, registration N2719S, was substantially damaged when it struck a pond short of the runway during an attempted go-around at Mineola, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The local flight originated around 0930.
Pilot Statements
According to the FAA inspector who responded to the scene, the pilot had just purchased the airplane and intended to fly with another pilot based at the airport. When that pilot failed to arrive, the pilot decided to taxi the airplane to look for him. The pilot told the inspector that he did not intend to fly but only to "fast taxi" down the runway. However, the airplane "got away from him" and "jumped into the air." He made several landing attempts, each resulting in a go-around.
In his accident report, the pilot stated his intention was to practice "fast taxi to see if I could keep the airplane straight down [the] runway. Apparently, when I reached takeoff speed, the airplane rotated and I was airborne." He flew around the pattern and attempted to land. He described his final approach as too short and too high, prompting a go-around. He recalled encountering turbulence and then nothing else.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported that the airplane took off from runway 17 and initially appeared to climb normally. The pilot then began making "very steep naked turns and was flying erratically." The first landing attempt led to a go-around. One witness observed an "abrupt 90 degree bank turn to the left with full flaps down and it appeared that the aircraft entered a stall about 3/4 of the way through the 180 degree turn, but the pilot was able to recover." The pilot made multiple landing attempts. On the final attempt, a witness said the airplane touched down midfield. The pilot then attempted a go-around, entered a steep left bank, and struck the pond 450 feet east and short of runway 17. The impact killed a grazing cow.
Pilot Background
The FAA inspector reviewed the pilot's logbook, which indicated he held a student pilot certificate dated November 21, 1980. No current medical certificate was found, and no record of one existed. The logbook showed a total flight time of 27.4 hours, all in a Cessna 152.
Additional Information
The airplane owner reported to the FAA that the pilot's check for the purchase had been returned for insufficient funds.