# NTSB ATL07CA071: Cessna C-150H, N6555S, Dyersburg, TN, April 8, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 8, 2007, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Dyersburg, TN
- Coordinates: 35.992221, -89.403892
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9922&lon=-89.4039&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Memphis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65790
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65790/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA071

## Probable cause

The student's pilot's misjudged distance/altitude that led to an undershoot and a failure to attain the proper touchdown point.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ditch
  - distance/altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The airplane collided with a ditch short of the runway threshhold.  According to the student pilot, he was practicing "on point or spot landings". He stated that he "landed too close to the south end of the strip and got the left landing gear caught in a ditch about 8 inches from the top, causing the gear to bend backwards and causing the aircraft to veer to the left. He regained control of the aircraft and stopped." He further stated that he "should have picked a spot further down the runway to practice spot landings." Damage to the airplane consisted of both landing gear and damage to surrounding airframe structure. There were no pre-impact mechanical problems reported by the pilot.

## Factual narrative

According to the student pilot, he was practicing "on point or spot landings". He stated that he "landed too close to the south end of the strip and got the left landing gear caught in a ditch about 8 inches from the top, causing the gear to bend backwards and causing the aircraft to veer to the left. He regained control of the aircraft and stopped." He further stated that he "should have picked a spot further down the runway to practice spot landings." Damage to the airplane consisted of both landing gear and damage to surrounding airframe structure. There were no mechanical problems reported by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6555S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6555S-2013-04-30), registration cancelled 2013-04-30, S/N 15067355, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna C-150H
- 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: 15067355
- Airframe hours: 4692.3
- Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Tony R. Willis
- Registered owner: Harold R. Willis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2007, 38 hours before
- Departed: PVT, Dyersburg, TN
- Destination: PVT, Dyersburg, TN
- Airport: PVT, Willis Airport, runway 36, 2,500 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 159 total, 132 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: DYR

## Other investigations on N6555S (1)

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.

- [NTSB ERA11LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA203), Mar 20, 2011: Cessna 150H (N6555S), Maury City, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain the proper glidepath during on off-airport landing.

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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