History of Flight
On July 22, 2023, at 2224 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N17043, was substantially damaged when it struck power lines near Houston, Texas. The student pilot was fatally injured. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to a family member, the pilot had moved furniture and other belongings to his new hangar and intended to fly several laps in the traffic pattern. Airport surveillance video recorded the pilot arriving at his hangar at 2207. At 2222, the pilot radioed his departure from runway 15. The airplane departed at 2223 and continued south out of camera view. At 2224, the airplane reappeared flying northbound on the east side of the runway in the traffic pattern, then descended toward the ground. A bright flash was observed at the point of impact.
Video from a local business showed the airplane in level flight before it quickly descended and struck power lines, producing a large flash and sparks. The landing light was visible during level flight and descent, briefly disappeared for less than one second, then was visible again just before hitting the power lines. No radar or ADS-B data were available for the flight.
Personnel Information
The student pilot held a third-class Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate issued on August 22, 2009. At that time, he reported 120 total flight hours, with 10 hours in the previous six months. His logbooks were not located during the investigation, so total flight experience, night experience, and recency could not be determined.
Aircraft Information
Fuel receipts from West Houston Airport indicated that on June 25, 2023, the pilot purchased 13.9 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. The number of flights after that refueling was unknown. Maintenance logbooks were not available.
Meteorological Information
Weather conditions recorded at the accident airport were conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest inverted and entangled in power lines in a grassy area beside a road. Impact signatures and thermal damage from the power lines were evident. Examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with flight controls that would have prevented normal operation, though all flight control hardware showed corrosion.
The fuel system was intact except for a vent line hose connection at the right wing root. Both wing fuel caps were secure. Fuel blighting was observed in the grass. About 0.6 gallons of blue fuel drained from the right wing; the left wing tank was empty. The firewall fuel strainer contained orange/brown debris, which analysis showed was mostly carbon, oxygen, and aluminum, with small amounts of sodium, silicon, and iron—consistent with aluminum wear particles and dirt in the fuel system.
The engine remained partially attached via fractured mounts and had several corroded areas. Engine continuity was confirmed on rotation. Suction and compression were obtained in each cylinder. The original oil screen was still installed, containing about 1 ounce of oil sludge and carbon fragments, but a supplemental type certificate from 1993 required its removal for a spin-on oil filter adapter. The spin-on filter had no contaminants; the oil appeared clean and relatively new.
One propeller blade was bent aft with leading edge damage, polishing, and chordwise scratches, with two areas of thermal damage. The other blade was similarly bent with one thermal area.
The pilot's headlamp, found in the cockpit, was on and set to the brightest white setting; it had no red lens or setting for night operations.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences listed the cause of death as blunt trauma to the head, torso, and extremities. Toxicology testing found no drugs of abuse.
Additional Information
The FAA's Airplane Flying Handbook notes that dark adaptation can take up to 30 minutes and that exposure to bright light for one second or more can temporarily impair night vision.