History of Flight
On September 20, 2018, at about 2230 central daylight time, a Cessna 150H, registration N7152S, sustained substantial damage when it crashed near Festus, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, relocating from New York to Festus Memorial Airport (FES).
Fuel receipts show three refueling stops: 13.4 gallons at Chautauqua County/Dunkirk Airport (DKK), 16.56 gallons at Knox County Airport (4I3), and 13.62 gallons at Greensburg Municipal Airport (I34) at 1906. The distance from I34 to FES was about 275 miles.
Text messages to the pilot's fiancée indicated a "small electrical problem" and an estimated arrival of 2215 after the last fuel stop, later extended to 2220 due to a headwind. The pilot asked the fiancée to stand at the runway end with a flashlight to guide the landing and mentioned attempting to activate airport lighting with a handheld radio, uncertain of battery power.
The fiancée reported that the airplane appeared "blacked out" with no exterior lights during an attempted landing. The last message stated, "keep light on." After losing contact, she alerted law enforcement. The wreckage was found the next morning in a tree-covered swamp about 1/4 mile southeast of runway 19.
Personnel Information
The pilot was an airline pilot with previous experience as a helicopter air ambulance and military helicopter pilot, and held a mechanic certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings. His most recent company flight was on September 19, 2018, and his last check ride was on August 24, 2018. The passenger held a FAA third-class medical certificate but no airman certificates and no reported flight time.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 150H pilot's operating handbook (POH) lists maximum fuel capacity at 26 gallons total (13 gallons per tank), with 22.5 gallons usable and 3.5 gallons unusable. The Textron Aviation Pilot Safety and Warning Supplements describe electrical power loss procedures: maintain control and land when practical; continued flight is possible but should be terminated soon. Maintenance records showed no uncorrected mechanical discrepancies.
Meteorological Information
Sunset at FES occurred at 1902, with civil twilight ending at 1928. Moonrise was at 1656, moon transit at 2206, and the moon was waxing gibbous with 83% illumination.
Airport Information
The accident occurred near Festus Memorial Airport (FES). No additional runway or lighting information is provided.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was located about 1/4 mile southeast of runway 19, at an elevation of 440 ft above mean sea level. Flight control continuity was established. Both wings, fuselage, and empennage sustained substantial damage from tree impact. Fuel tanks remained intact; about 2.25 gallons of fuel were extracted. Propeller blades showed no chordwise scratches or torsional deformation.
Examination of the alternator and voltage regulator revealed the alternator functioned normally, but the voltage regulator was inoperable. The voltage regulator was manufactured around 1976 with no specified life limit or replacement interval. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found in the airframe or engine except for the voltage regulator.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the pilot by the Jefferson County Office of the Regional Medical Examiner attributed cause of death to "craniocerebral trauma." Toxicological tests by the FAA's Forensic Sciences Laboratory were negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and drugs; a cyanide test was not performed.