- Date
- May 13, 2003, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Morris, AL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N2970SCessna 150G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Birmingham FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030513015089A
- Case key
- 57035
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing, which resulted in a ground collision with terrain, and subsequent collapse of the nose gear.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that after a few minutes of flying, he noticed a surge in RPM and he heard a loud squeal in his headset. Instead of attempting to return to the departure airport, the pilot decided to attempt a precautionary landing on a golf course near his home. During the landing rollout the nose wheel collided with a dip in the surface and collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear collapsed, the engine mounts were broke and the firewall was damaged. Examination of the flight control system revealed no mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
On May 13, 2003, at 1220 central daylight time, a Cessna 150, N2970S, registered to and owned by a commercial pilot, nose gear collapsed during a precautionary landing on a golf course near Morris, Alabama. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. The flight departed a private grass strip in Morris, Alabama, at 1150 on May 13, 2003.
The pilot reported that after a few minutes of flying, he noticed a serge in engine RPM and he heard a loud squeal in his headset. Instead of attempting a return to the departure airport, the pilot decided to attempt a precautionary landing on a golf course near his home. During the landing rollout the nose wheel collided with a dip in the surface and collapsed.
Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose gear collapsed, the engine mounts were broke and the firewall was damaged. Examination of the flight control system revealed no mechanical malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2970S
- Reported as
- Cessna 150G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15066870
- Airframe hours
- 3,657.5
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas M. Willis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 18, 2003
- Departed
- Morris, AL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- August 7, 2001
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,300 total · 150 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- BHM, 30 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.
Other investigations on N2970S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.