# NTSB ANC87LA047: Cessna 150D, N5972T, Anchorage, AK, March 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 12, 1987, 13:03 local (17:03 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.220756, -149.85028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2208&lon=-149.8503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4830
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87LA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4830/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA047

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WITH PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN TAIL WHEEL AIRPLANES, BUT HAD NOT FLOWN A CESSNA 150 TAIL WHEEL CONVERSION AND WISHED TO FAMILARIZE HIMSELF WITH THE AIRPLANE BY A SERIES OF TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE FIRST LANDING, COLLIDED WITH A RUNWAY PERIMETER SNOW BERM AND NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5972T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150D
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15060672
- Airframe hours: 1984
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Douglas E. Beers
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 31, 1987, 10 hours before
- Airport: MRI, Merrill Field, runway 6, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 568 total, 140 in this make and model, 478 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 135 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRI

## 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 19870312007419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870312007419A), Mar 12, 1987: Cessna STC150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft ground looped and hit a snowberm on landing. First flight in this tailwheel converted aircraft.

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.