Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WHILE MANEUVERING. A FACTOR WAS THE STUDENT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM THE OPEN ENGINE INSPECTION DOOR
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On February 20, 1993, at approximately 1500 central standard time, a Cessna 150H, N6623S, was substantially damaged while maneuvering at low altitude when it impacted a fence post and barbed wire at a private airstrip near Adkins, Texas. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo instructional flight.
The student pilot departed in his airplane from Stinson Airport, San Antonio, Texas, at approximately 1400 and flew to his private airstrip to practice landings. He stated to the FAA that he was flying approaches to the airstrip, but not touching down on the surface. During a low level maneuver, he was distracted when the engine cowling inspection door came open and the airplane's left wing impacted with a fence post and barbed wire, according to his statement. He landed the airplane without further incident, inspected the damage, put duct tape over the damaged area, and flew back to Stinson Airport. The accident was not reported and was discovered by an FAA inspector during an inspection of a repair station. The airplane's left wing spar was fractured through.
The FAA mailed an NTSB Form 6120.1/2 to the pilot. The pilot has not returned the document to date, even though numerous attempts have been made to contact him to obtain it.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW93LA091