# NTSB ANC10CA089: Cessna 150M, N45624, Bethel, AK, September 14, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 14, 2010, 01:00 local (09:00 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 60.77861, -161.837219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7786&lon=-161.8372&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 77276 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77276/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77276 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance during a night approach, resulting in a collision with terrain short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo commercial pilot was doing full stop night landings, to become night current under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said on his third landing, he noticed that the vertical approach slope indicator (VASI) lights were becoming red over red indicating that he was below the glide slope. He said he should have applied full power. The pilot reported that the airplane continued to descend, and struck the elevated instrument landing system (ILS) runway centerline lights and terrain short of the runway. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane's fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. ## Factual narrative The solo commercial pilot was doing full stop night landings, to become night current under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said on his third landing, he noticed that the vertical approach slope indicator (VASI) lights were becoming red over red indicating that he was below the glide slope. He said he should have applied full power. The pilot reported that the airplane continued to descend, and struck the elevated instrument landing system (ILS) runway centerline lights and terrain short of the runway. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane's fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45624](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45624-2012-11-14), registration cancelled 2012-11-14, S/N 15076995, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15076995 - Airframe hours: 5509 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Roberto Guerrero - Registered owner: Yuut Yaqungviat LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 9, 2010 - Departed: PABE, Bethel, AK - Destination: PABE, Bethel, AK - Airport: PABE, Bethel, runway 19R, 6,400 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 1,915 total, 183 in this make and model, 1,724 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: PABE ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100914047529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100914047529A), Sep 14, 2010: Cessna 150M, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. The PIC [privacy data omitted] was completeing his . Third landing for his night currency. On short final to runway 19 at the Bethel arport the aircraft… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77276. 893 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 893 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338409&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.