# NTSB CEN09CA552: Cessna 150F, N8312G, Abilene, KS, August 29, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 29, 2009, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Abilene, KS - Coordinates: 38.903888, -97.235832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9039&lon=-97.2358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 74633 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA552 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74633/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74633 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA552 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate crosswind landing technique, resulting in an excessive side load on the left landing gear that led to an overload failure of its axle. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 150F, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071814), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot said that while landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 35 with a north-northeast wind of 8 mph, he failed to lower the right wing into the wind. The wind raised the right wing while he was using left rudder. The airplane swerved to the east and the left wheel broke off. The airplane then nosed down, buckling the firewall. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who examined the airplane reported the left axle bore a fracture surface consistent with an overload failure. ## Factual narrative The student pilot said that while landing on runway 35 with a north-northeast wind of 8 mph, he failed to lower the right wing into the wind. The wind raised the right wing while he was using left rudder. The airplane swerved to the east and the left wheel broke off. The airplane then nosed down, buckling the firewall. The airplane was a Cessna 150F with a tailwheel conversion. FAA inspectors who examined the airplane reported the left axle bore a fracture surface consistent with an overload failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8312G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8312G), registered now, S/N 15062412, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150F - Registry model: [Cessna 150F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150f) (registry code 2071814) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15062412 - Airframe hours: 4431 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Estol L. Bathurst - Registered owner: Estol L. Bathurst - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 17, 2009, 12 hours before - Departed: K78, Abilene, KS - Destination: K78, Abilene, KS - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: K78, Abilene Municipal, runway 35, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 28 total, 22 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: SLN, 23 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 20090829016689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090829016689A), Aug 29, 2009: Cessna 150F, Abilene, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) This student pilot was on his third solo flight with 24 hours total time and the weather was bumpy after takeoff. After a short period of air work, the… ## Other investigations on N8312G (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 MIA67D0283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA67D0283), Oct 30, 1966: Cessna 150 (N8312G), Eufaula, AL, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74633. 2.6 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 500 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319120&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1. N8312G in the hangar. (item 3, .PDF, 355 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20N8312G%20in%20the%20hangar.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Left main landing gear. (item 4, .PDF, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319122&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Left%20main%20landing%20gear.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Close-up view of left main landing gear. (item 5, .PDF, 357 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319123&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Close-up%20view%20of%20left%20main%20landing%20gear.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Closer view of left main landing gear. (item 6, .PDF, 365 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319124&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Closer%20view%20of%20left%20main%20landing%20gear.-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Fracture surfaces. (item 7, .PDF, 332 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319125&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20Fracture%20surfaces.-Master.PDF - Photo 6. Cockpit interior floor damage. (item 8, .PDF, 344 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319126&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20Cockpit%20interior%20floor%20damage.-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.