# NTSB CEN10CA286: Cessna 150M, N9388U, Glasco, KS, May 31, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 31, 2010, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Glasco, KS - Coordinates: 39.371387, -97.783889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3714&lon=-97.7839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 76188 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA286 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76188/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76188 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA286 ## Probable cause The pilot’s delay in applying full power to arrest a sink rate at low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high temperature](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot wanted to take some photographs of a building on his farm. It was a "hot (85 to 88 degrees) humid day." He made one pass to the north before turning around to the south. On the second pass at reduced power, the airplane began to settle towards the ground from about 200 feet. He added power but the airplane's wheels contacted wheat on rising terrain. From 95 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed), the "drag was instant." Despite full power and full back elevator, the airplane struck the top of an incline, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot's accident report, he wanted to take some photographs of a building on his farm. It was a "hot (85 to 88 degrees) humid day." He made one pass to the north before turning around to the south. On the second pass at reduced power, the airplane began to settle towards the ground from about 200 feet. He added power but the airplane's wheels contacted wheat on rising terrain. From 95 KIAS (knots indicated airspeed), the "drag was instant." Despite full power and full back elevator, the airplane struck the top of an incline, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said the wings were bent, the empennage crushed, and the fuselage buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9388U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9388U-2011-12-27), registration cancelled 2011-12-27, S/N 15078336, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078336 - Airframe hours: 3609 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ray Palmer - Registered owner: Ray Palmer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 2009, 5 hours before - Departed: NONE, Glasco, KS - Destination: NONE, Glasco, KS - Airport: NONE, Palmer Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 127 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: CNK ## 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 20100531034809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100531034809A), May 31, 2010: Cessna 150M, Glasco, KS, Substantial damage. The aircraft was on approach for a low pass over a fully grown wheat field to take photos of nearby property. The airplane lost lift and began to sink into the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76188. 603 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 568 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333922&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331293&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.