- Date
- January 11, 2009, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Sellersburg, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N778MECessna 150M
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 23, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration, Indianapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090111001459A
- Case key
- 73227
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 student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at a low altitude. An additional cause was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The accident occurred during the student pilot's initial takeoff on an instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that shortly after liftoff the airplane turned slightly into the wind before entering an aerodynamic stall out of ground effect. The flight instructor immediately assumed control of the airplane and attempted to recover from the stalled condition. The airplane impacted the runway nose first and then bounced several times before coming to rest. The engine firewall, engine mounts, nose landing gear, lower cowling, and propeller were damaged.
Factual narrative
The accident occurred during the initial takeoff of an instructional flight. The student pilot was flying the airplane during the takeoff. The flight instructor reported that shortly after liftoff the airplane turned slightly into the wind before entering an aerodynamic stall out of ground effect. The flight instructor immediately assumed control of the airplane and attempted to recover from the stalled condition. The airplane impacted the runway nose first and then bounced several times before coming to rest. The engine firewall, engine mounts, nose landing gear, lower cowling, and propeller were damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N778ME
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15078703
- Airframe hours
- 5,167.3
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Hap's Aerial Enterprises, INC.
- Registered owner
- Hap's Aerial Enterprises, INC.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 19, 2008
- Departed
- KJVY · Sellersburg, IN
- Destination
- KJVY · Sellersburg, IN
- Airport
- KJVY · Clark Regional Airport, runway 18, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 22
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 11, 2008
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 493 total · 6 in this make and model · 417 as pilot in command · 93 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 17
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 12 total · 7 in this make and model · 1 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,300 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 30 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- KLOU, 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.