Accident Overview
On January 11, 2023, at approximately 1924 central standard time, a Cessna 150H, registration N22859, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Farington Field Airport (K01), Auburn, Nebraska. The flight instructor and student pilot on board were fatally injured. The airplane was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
Flight History
According to automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed Lincoln Airport (LNK), Lincoln, Nebraska, around 1845 and climbed to 3,500 ft mean sea level (msl). About 6 miles northwest of K01, it began a descent. The last ADS-B transmission, at 19:22:26, placed the airplane about 1.1 miles west of K01 at 105 knots groundspeed and approximately 1,900 ft msl. The airplane then struck a field without crops while on a southeasterly heading, roughly 1.2 miles south of the threshold of runway 34.
Personnel Information
The flight instructor received his initial Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight instructor certificate on August 6, 2022, and a flight instructor instrument airplane rating on November 22, 2022. He had accumulated about 36 total flight hours at night and approximately 12 hours of night instructing.
Aircraft Information
The cockpit was equipped with flood strip lights. The flight instructor had previously reported that these lights could make viewing the in-set instruments in the cockpit more difficult at night.
Meteorological Information
On the accident evening, United States Naval Observatory data indicated sunset at 1717, the end of civil twilight at 1747, and moonrise at 2153 (after the accident). The accident site was surrounded by farm fields with an absence of cultural lighting. According to the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, the probability of carburetor icing during the prevailing weather conditions was serious at cruise power.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The impact site was consistent with a near wings-level and moderate nose-down attitude, as evidenced by ground impressions of the landing gear and crushing of the front fuselage. All major components were present at the site. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The wing flaps and actuator were in the retracted position. Fuel drained from both wing tanks showed no signs of water or sediment. The propeller spinner was crushed aft with minimal rotational damage; both blades were bent aft with little rotational scoring. The throttle control was found in a mid-position and bent, while the mixture control was near full forward (rich). The carburetor heat control was in the full forward (off) position. Examinations of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsies performed on the flight instructor and student pilot by the Nemaha County Coroner determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory did not identify any tested-for substances.