N9237U

On November 10, 1994, at 2140 central standard time, a Cessna C-150M, N9237U, was substantially damaged while maneuvering after takeoff near Seguin, Texas. The private pilot received minor injuries. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight.

The pilot stated the following in his written pilot/operator report: Shortly after takeoff from runway 30 at Geronimo Field, Seguin, Texas, "the engine began a series of surges and began losing airspeed." The airplane was maintaining level flight and was "pulled up" to avoid buildings at the end of the runway. After passing the buildings, the airplane continued to maintain level flight and was "banked to the right" to avoid storage tanks and then "back to the left." After passing the storage tanks, the airplane "started to gain a few feet of altitude, but had to be pulled up sharply to avoid power lines." As the pilot pulled up, the airplane struck wires with the landing gear. After impact with the wires, the pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane to land in a plowed field adjacent to the airport. While maneuvering to land, the airplane struck a telephone pole, and descended to the ground approximately 150-200 feet past the pole.

According to the pilot's diagram of the accident site, the airplane was either in level flight or banking to avoid obstacles for approximately .6 miles past the departure end of runway 30, prior to striking wires. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector observed evidence of wire strikes on the main landing gear. The engine was separated from the firewall with engine control cables still attached. The spinner assembly was separated from the gearbox with the propellers attached. Both the left front cylinder fins and the spinner cone displayed cylindrical crushing. A telephone pole was found sheared off approximately 12 feet from the top.

Examination and teardown of the engine did not reveal any mechanical anomalies. Both impulse couplings fired at top dead center on the #1 cylinder and both magnetos sparked at all terminals when hand rotated.