# NTSB ATL96LA040: Cessna 150H, N50215, Knoxville, TN, January 28, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 28, 1996, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Location: 35.9638° N, 83.8737° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KNOXVILLE DOWNTOWN ISLAND (DKX), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9638&lon=-83.8737&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3688
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3688/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA040

## Probable cause

Failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed during a go-around, which resulted in a stall.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)

## Analysis

After returning from a local training flight, the student pilot attempted a normal landing. During the flare, the aircraft ballooned and then drifted to the left. Subsequently, the left main landing gear struck grass on the left side of the runway, and the student elected to go-around. Sufficient airspeed was not maintained, and the aircraft stalled and collided with the ground. No mechanical difficulties with the aircraft were reported.

## Factual narrative

On January 28, 1996, at 1650 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150H, N50215, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during a go-around attempt at the Knoxville Downtown Airport, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The student pilot received minor injuries in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 at the time. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local, solo training flight.

According to the pilot, he was attempting to land on runway 08. He stated that the airplane was getting away from him. As he attempted to compensate for drift, the airplane's left main gear touched the grass on the north side of the runway. Witnesses stated that the pilot attempted a go-around, and increased the angle of attack to approximately 45 degrees. The aircraft then stalled, and dropped about 50 feet, colliding with the terrain. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulties with the aircraft during the flight.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N50215](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50215-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N 15069142, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 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: 15069142
- Airframe hours: 6727
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Wen L. Thomas
- Registered owner: Barry Sanders
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 1995, 55 hours before
- Departed: DKX
- Airport: DKX, Downtown Island, runway 8, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 57 total, 57 in this make and model, 30 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TYS, 10 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 19960128000999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960128000999A), Jan 28, 1996: Cessna 150H, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. Loosing control landing. Began nose high go around. Stalled dropped 50FT. Collided with terrain.

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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