# NTSB ATL07CA039: Cessna C150, N5843E, Palmetto, GA, February 6, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 6, 2007, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Palmetto, GA
- Coordinates: 33.5358333333333, -84.6366666666667
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5358&lon=-84.6367&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Atlanta FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65280
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA039
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65280/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA039

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during the landing flare, which resulted in a loss of control and an in-flight collision with objects.  A factor associated with the accident was a crosswind.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

According to the student pilot, he was on left downwind for runway 27 at 2000 feet msl.  He stated that he "turned base and final with nothing amiss.  After I flared and before I touched down, I was caught off guard by a cross wind that turned the airplane to the left.  I did not have enough airspeed to correct and struck brush and saplings on [the] left side of the runway."  Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found that the airplane had struck trees and a ditch, damaging the engine mounts and firewall, wrinkling the fuselage, and separating the right wingtip. There were no mechanical problems reported by the pilot or discovered during the postaccident examination of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot he was on left downwind for runway 27 at 2000 feet msl. He stated that he "turned base and final with nothing amiss. After I flared and before I touched down, I was caught off guard by a cross wind that turned the airplane to the left. I did not have enough airspeed to correct and struck brush and saplings on [the] left side of the runway."

Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found that the airplane had struck trees and a ditch damaging the engine mounts and firewall, wrinkling the fuselage and separating the right wing tip. There were no mechanical problems reported by the pilot or discovered during the post-accident examination of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5843E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5843E), registered now, S/N 17343, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna C150
- Registry model: [Cessna 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150) (registry code 2071802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17343
- Airframe hours: 3160
- Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wayne Douglas Medlin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2006, 35 hours before
- Departed: 8A9, Palmetto, GA
- Airport: 8A9, South Fulton, runway 27, 2,690 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 39; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: ATL

## 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 20070206001959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070206001959A), Feb 6, 2007: Cessna 150, Palmetto, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] ^ entered the traffic pattern to land on runway 27 at south Fulton airport. The pilot ^pri^ stated the winds were…

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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