Cessna 150 N50183 accident near Lakeview, Arkansas

Probable cause

The student pilot’s impairment by alcohol and multiple medications, which led to his failure to maintain obstacle clearance during takeoff and the subsequent exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

NTSB analysis

The student pilot reported that after takeoff from the grass airstrip, the left wing impacted a tree branch. He overcorrected from the impact and stalled the airplane. The airplane impacted a grass clearing and came to rest inverted near trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the empennage.

Although his blood alcohol level was not tested after the accident, the student pilot stated that he drank alcohol during the afternoon of the flight. In addition, he admitted to taking baclofen and bupropion, which are both potentially impairing medications that carry specific warnings about increased impairing effects when used in combination with alcohol.

It is likely the pilot was impaired by his use of a combination of alcohol, baclofen, and bupropion and that these effects likely increased his willingness to fly while impaired and prevented him from safely taking off.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN18LA274 for the full record.