History of Flight
On October 8, 2015, about 1340 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 150F airplane, N7064, sustained substantial damage following an in-flight loss of control and subsequent collision with a rural road, shortly after departing from the Cubdivision Airport, Big Lake, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions were reported; no flight plan had been filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to the Big Lake Airport, about 3 miles south.
According to witnesses, the pilot had departed from the Big Lake Airport earlier that morning, arriving at Cubdivision Airport, a 1,200-foot-long by 100-foot-wide private gravel airstrip, about 1230. About 1340, witnesses observed the accident airplane depart to the north on runway 04. Just after takeoff, the airplane made a left climbing 270-degree turn and flew crosswind over the departure end. When it reached about 300 feet above ground level, the climb shallowed slightly as it passed over a workshop and house. As the airplane flew southeasterly, it began another climbing left turn, during which it rolled left, then descended vertically, nose first, behind tall trees. The airplane subsequently collided with a paved road; a postcrash fire incinerated much of the cockpit, left wing, and fuselage.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 23, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single and multi-engine land ratings. His most recent second-class medical certificate was issued on February 26, 2015, with a limitation to wear corrective lenses. According to his logbook, he had about 933 total flight hours. He was flying a Cessna 172 professionally; the accident flight was his second flight in his personally owned Cessna 150 after returning from a two-week duty rotation in Bethel, Alaska.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 150F is a two-seat, high-wing, tricycle landing gear airplane, powered by a Continental Motors O-200 engine rated at 100 horsepower. At the time of the accident, the airplane was equipped with a Sensenich fixed-pitch propeller. However, review of maintenance logbooks revealed that on May 12, 2015, a McCauley fixed-pitch propeller had been installed, with no logbook entry for the Sensenich. According to family and friends, a different propeller had been temporarily installed while waiting for a new one, which was scheduled for installation the day after the accident. The last annual inspection was on May 4, 2015, at which time the airframe had 3,806.55 total hours and the engine 1,434.2 hours since overhaul.
Meteorological Information
The closest weather reporting facility at Wasilla, about 9 miles east, reported at 1336: wind 060 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 19 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, overcast ceiling at 12,000 feet, temperature 55°F, dew point 34°F, altimeter 29.30 inches Hg. Pilots in the area reported low-level wind gusts near the accident site.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The main wreckage came to rest on a road at 209 feet mean sea level. The airplane impacted in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude; a postcrash fire consumed the cabin, inboard left wing, and most of the fuselage. All major components were accounted for. Flight control continuity was established from each control surface to the point of impact and fire damage. The wing spars and struts remained intact. The flap actuator measured at 0.15 inches, corresponding to flaps retracted. The fuel selector was in the on position. Engine examination revealed no signs of operational distress or pre-accident anomalies. The teardown showed throttle valve closed; the carburetor fuel screen was unobstructed. Magnetos were thermally damaged but spark was observed after adjustments. There were no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
A postmortem examination attributed the pilot's cause of death to blunt force traumatic injuries. Toxicology tests by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute were negative for carbon monoxide, drugs, and ethanol.