# NTSB ANC19LA015: Cessna 150, N7095S, Talkeetna, AK, March 16, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 16, 2019, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.333057, -150.078613 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3331&lon=-150.0786&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA, Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99129
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC19LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99129/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99129
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA015

## Probable cause

A loss of pitch control for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a collision with terrain during an emergency landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 150H, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071818), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that she initiated the takeoff at the beginning of the runway to use all 3,500 ft of available runway. She added that the flight controls were free and correct and that she applied power with the control yoke full aft for a "soft field" takeoff. The airplane "seemed" to become airborne earlier than normal, and during the initial climb, the nose of the airplane wanted to pitch up slightly. She applied "some" nose-down trim and pushed the yoke forward "slightly," and the airplane continued to climb. As the airspeed increased, the airplane's pitch attitude increased; she then applied full nose-down trim and full forward yoke and asked for help from her student. She then reduced the engine power to idle, performed an emergency landing, and the airplane came to rest in the trees. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

On March 16, 2019, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 150H airplane, N7095S, impacted trees while performing an emergency landing after takeoff at Talkeetna Airport (TKA), Talkeetna, Alaska. The certified flight instructor and one student sustained no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a visual flight rules instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from TKA, about 1530. During discussion with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was to provide an introductory flight lesson to a prospective new student. She added that she was in the right seat, and the student was in the left seat at the time of the accident. Prior to departure she checked the movement of the flight controls and stated that they "were free and correct". The flight instructor said that during the first takeoff run, condensation formed on the airplane's windscreen, so she aborted the takeoff and taxied back to the end of Runway 1 for a second attempt, using all 3,500 feet of available runway. During the second takeoff attempt, she applied power with the control yoke full aft for a "soft field" takeoff. The airplane "seemed" to become airborne earlier than normal, and during the initial climb out, the nose of the airplane wanted to pitch up slightly. She applied "some" nose down trim, and pushed the yoke forward "slightly", and the airplane continued to climb. As the airspeed increased the pitch up attitude increased, she then applied full nose down trim and full forward yoke and asked for help from her student. The flight instructor added, she observed the tree line ahead, and unable to correct the nose high attitude of the airplane, reduced the engine power to idle and selected an area of tree covered terrain as an emergency landing site. The airplane subsequently settled into the trees and came to rest near a road. The occupants were able to egress without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings, the empennage, and the fuselage. The flight instructor reported that during the accident flight, they had about 20 lbs. of equipment in the back seat/storage area, including an engine cover, sleeping bag, stove, and winter gear. A postaccident examination of the airplane by the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor further reported that there were no mechanical issues with the engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7095S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7095S), registered now, S/N 15067795, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 150 (H)
- Registry model: [Cessna 150H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150h) (registry code 2071818) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15067795
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 6391.6
- Engines: Continental O-200A-14 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2018
- Departed: TKA, Talkeetna, AK
- Destination: TKA, Talkeetna, AK
- Airport: TKA, Talkeetna, runway 01, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 20, 2018; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 950 total, 50 in this make and model, 874 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; injuries: none; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; restraint: lap only

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.29 inHg
- Observed at: PATK, 1 nm away

## 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 20190316000499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190316000499A), Mar 16, 2019: Cessna 150H, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. The CFI (pilot) was conducting an introductory flight lesson to a new student. She added that she was in The right seat and the student was in the left seat at…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99129. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 455 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482925&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot Diagram (item 2, .PDF, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Diagram-Master.PDF
- Pilot ROC (item 3, .PDF, 214 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482927&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20ROC-Master.PDF
- Student Statement (item 4, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Pictures (item 5, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482929&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-Master.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.

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