The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Riverside, California
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Twentynine Palms, California
Accident Number: WPR20CA060
Date and Time: January 3, 2020, 20:00 Local
Registration: N45069
Aircraft: Cessna 150
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel related
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot reported that, upon arrival at the airport after dark, he attempted to activate the pilot-controlled lights by keying the mike seven times. Shortly later, he repeated the process twice, but the runway lights did not turn on. He circled the area to try to locate the airport but was unsuccessful. The airplane was now low on fuel, so the pilot began looking for a place to make a precautionary landing. He landed the airplane on a dirt road, and during the landing rollout, the nose landing gear separated, and the left wing was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The Federal Aviation Administration Airport Facility Directory noted that medium-intensity runway lights were available at the airport. To activate the pilot-controlled lighting, the pilot must key the mike five times in 5 seconds. The pilot reported that he did not check what the proper procedures were for operating the pilot-controlled lighting for the runway. Airport personnel checked the pilot-controlled lighting system the day after the accident and reported that there were no malfunctions with the system.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's poor preflight planning, during which he failed to verify the proper procedure to activate the runway lights; his inability to locate the airport without lighting; and the airplane's subsequent low-fuel state as he circled looking for the airport, which necessitated a precautionary off-airport landing, during which the nose landing gear separated.
Findings
Personnel issues Flight planning/navigation - Pilot
Environmental issues Dark - Effect on personnel
Aircraft Fuel - Fluid level
Personnel issues Use of policy/procedure - Pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing Fuel related (Defining event)
Landing Off-field or emergency landing
Landing-landing roll Part(s) separation from AC
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 24, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: April 1, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: January 12, 2018
Flight Time: 260 hours (Total, all aircraft), 28.8 hours (Total, this make and model)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N45069
Model/Series: 150 M
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1975
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal; Utility
Serial Number: 15076722
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: November 18, 2019 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1601 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6295.3 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: O-220-A
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 100 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: KNXP, 2051 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 18:56 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 312°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.37 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 0°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Maricopa, AZ (A39)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Twentynine Palms, CA (TNP)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 19:00 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: Twentynine Palms TNP
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 1888 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used:
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Straight-in
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 34.136112,-115.944442
A pilot escaped injury when his plane crashed west of the Twentynine Palms Airport Friday night.
Rescue personnel were called to the plane crash at Sullivan and Francis Roads at 9:18 p.m.
County Fire Battalion Chief Scott Tuttle said there was no fire or other hazards.
The California Highway Patrol and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash.
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