Loss of control in flight: Cessna 150L, N1701Q, fatal accident occurred on May 15, 2024, near Godley, Texas

• Location: Godley, Texas 
• Accident Number: CEN24FA188 
• Date & Time: May 15, 2024, 20:39 Local 
• Registration: N1701Q 
• Aircraft: Cessna 150L 
• Aircraft Damage: Destroyed 
• Defining Event: Loss of control in flight 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional 

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194266/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194266

On May 15, 2024, about 2039 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L airplane, N1701Q, was destroyed during an accident near Godley, Texas. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight.

The student pilot was conducting a local solo flight. Review of flight track data revealed that, during the final 6.5 minutes of the flight, the airplane completed several large deceleration-and-acceleration cycles between 1,000 and 1,700 ft above ground level (agl). During each of these cycles, the airplane’s airspeed decreased below aerodynamic stall speed before it increased again. The airspeed and altitude profiles during these maneuvers were consistent with the pilot practicing aerodynamic stalls.

Shortly before the accident, the airplane entered a rapid climb while the airspeed decreased below aerodynamic stall speed, consistent with an intentional power-on stall entry. There was a 6-second interruption in track data coverage after the airplane entered the aerodynamic stall, but when coverage resumed, the airplane was in a rapid descent that continued until the end of recorded data about 8 seconds later.

A witness reported seeing the airplane flying at slow speed, almost “hovering” in the air, before it suddenly entered a spiraling nosedive. The airplane completed at least 6 to 8 rotations in the descending spiral before it descended out of sight behind a hill. An extensive postimpact fire thermally damaged most of the airplane.

A wreckage examination revealed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal airplane operation. The pilot’s autopsy and postmortem toxicology tests did not reveal any evidence of medical incapacitation or impairment. Based on the available information, the pilot likely did not maintain airplane control during the intentional power-on stall, which resulted in an inadvertent spin at an altitude from which he was unable to recover.

- Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while practicing a power-on stall, which resulted in an inadvertent spin at an altitude from which he was unable to recover.

VFR encounter with IMC: Air Tractor AT-802A, N331BS, fatal accident occurred on June 21, 2024, near Capitan, New Mexico

• Location: Capitan, New Mexico 
• Accident Number: WPR24FA202 
• Date & Time: June 21, 2024, 10:58 Local 
• Registration: N331BS 
• Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A 
• Aircraft Damage: Destroyed 
• Defining Event: VFR encounter with IMC 
• Injuries: 1 Fatal 
• Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Positioning

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194523/pdf

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194523

On June 21, 2024, about 1100 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802A airplane, N331BS, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Capitan, New Mexico. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight.

A flight of three fire-fighting airplanes was being repositioned on a visual flight rules flight from Texas to Oregon. The flight crews planned a refueling stop at an airport in New Mexico. Before reaching the airport, they saw “a light rain shower” ahead of them near the Capitan Mountains in New Mexico. The pilots of the first two airplanes maneuvered to avoid the weather, and the lead pilot directed the other two airplanes to turn 30° and climb to reacquire visual contact with one another. However, one of the pilots observed the accident airplane maneuvering about 2,000 ft below the other airplanes, and the accident pilot subsequently reported that he had a visual flight rules (VFR) corridor through the weather. The pilot likely elected to continue through the VFR corridor rather than climb with the other airplanes. Because the airplanes had been cruising at about 9,500 ft mean sea level (msl), the accident airplane was operating at about 7,500 ft msl in mountainous terrain where elevations in the Capitan Mountain Range exceeded 10,000 ft msl.

After the first two airplanes landed at the planned refueling destination, the pilots realized that the accident airplane had not arrived and was missing. After the FAA issued an Alert Notice for the missing airplane, the wreckage was located about 9 miles east-northeast of the Capitan Mountains by another airplane.

All required flight control surfaces of the airplane were found at the accident site. The ground scars, tree impact signatures, and wreckage impact fragment distribution indicated that the airplane impacted rising terrain in a near-level flight attitude at high forward velocity, consistent with controlled flight into terrain. Although the airplane was highly fragmented, postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The impact signatures on the propeller blades were consistent with high RPM and engine power at the time of impact.

Weather information for the area indicated widespread mountain obscuration, low ceilings, and light rain near the accident site. The National Weather Service (NWS) had several AlRMETs that were current at the time of the accident for mountain obscuration in the area, and weather observations near the accident site reported instrument flight rules (IFR) and low IFR (LIFR) conditions. Satellite imagery, weather radar data, and model sounding data indicated extensive overcast clouds and saturated atmospheric conditions over the mountainous terrain surrounding the accident site

Although IFR and mountain obscuration conditions existed in the surrounding area, the available evidence suggests that the pilot was likely attempting to maintain visual meteorological conditions while maneuvering through an apparent VFR corridor. As the airplane approached the mountainous terrain, the apparent VFR corridor ahead likely deteriorated rapidly due to rising terrain and mountain obscuration. Given the airplane’s nearlevel, high-speed impact attitude, the pilot was likely unable to perceive and avoid the terrain in sufficient time to prevent the collision.

- Probable Cause: The pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight through an apparent visual corridor that rapidly narrowed due to rising terrain and mountain obscuration, resulting in momentary instrument meteorological conditions and the pilot’s subsequent controlled flight into the obscured terrain.